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On the Ethics of Naturalism
About This Book
Originally published in 1884. Contents include: Ethics and its Problems - The Individualistic Theory - The Transition to Utilitarianism - Moral Sentiment - The Theory of Evolution and the Development of Morality - Evolution and Ethical Theories - Hedonism and Evolutionism - The Evolutionist End. Author: W.R.Sorley Language: English Keywords: Philosophy Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. Obscure Press are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork. Excerpt From Text: ON THE ETHICS OF NATURALISM BY W. E. SOELEY, MA. FELLOW OF TRINITY COLLECT, CAMBRIDGE, AND EXAMINER: PHILOSOPHY IN THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH THE Deed of Foundation of the Shaw Fellowship pro vides that it shall be in the power of the Senatus Academicus of the University of Edinburgh to re quire the holder of the Shaw Philosophical Fellow ship, during the fourth or fifth year of his tenure of it, to deliver in the University of Edinburgh a course of Lectures, not exceeding four, on any of the subjects for the encouragement of the study of which the Fel lowship has been founded, The following pages consist of four lectures delivered in the University of Edinburgh, in accordance with this provision, in the month of January 1884. Since their delivery, the argument of the lectures has been revised, and in some places enlarged. I have, also thought it better to modify their original f oragr dividing the discussion into chapters. CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. ETHICS AND ITS PROBLEMS. PAGE 1. Connection of ethics with theoretical philosophy,.. 1 a Dependence of ethical on theoretical points of view,. 1 Z Ethics necessary to complete philosophy,. 3 2 The inquiry into the ethical end,. 5 a Fundamental,... 5 Z Implies a new point of view,.... 7 c Distinct from other ethical questions,.. 9 a From the inquiry into the methods of ethics, 10 From moral psychology and sociology,.. 13 3. Scope of the preijncicyy......14 PART I. THE INDIVIDUALISTIC THEORY. CHAPTER II. EQOISM. Definition of Naturalism,..... 20 Pyschological hedonism,..21 Vlll CONTENTS. 1. Its theory of action ambiguous,. 22 Referring to a Actual consequences of action, 23 6 Or its expected consequences,. 23 c Or its present characteristics,.. 24 2. Ethical inferences from this theory,. 25 3. Transition from psychological to ethical hedonism, 31 4 Possible objections considered,... 37 CHAPTER III. THE TRANSITION TO UTILITARIANISM. 1 Difference of the standpoints of individual and State,. 41 2. Connection between egoism and utilitarianism according to Bentham,. 45 a Utilitarianism not a political duty,. 46 b Nor a moral duty,..... 47 c Nor insisted on as a religious duty,.. 49 d Nor sufficiently motived m private ethics,. 50 3. Exhaustive character of Benthams treatment from his point of view,...... 51 a The religious sanction Paley,...53 6 Limits of the political sanction, 54 c Uncertainty of the social sanction,.