Oyonale - 3D art and graphic experiments
ThinkSpam
Click on the phrases to see them in context. The original texts by Immanuel Kant and David Hume are available from the Gutenberg Projet.
.
In short, every one of his faults we either endeavour to extenuate, or dignify it with the name of that virtue, which approaches it. But to this I answer, first, that many of those qualities, which all moralists, especially the antients, comprehend under the title of moral virtues, are equally involuntary and necessary, with the qualities of the judgment and imagination. Suppose, that instead of the virtue or vice of a son or brother, which causes first love or hatred, and afterwards pride or humility, we place these good or bad qualities on ourselves, without any immediate connexion with the person, who is related to us: Experience shews us, that by this change of situation the whole chain is broke, and that the mind is not conveyed from one passion to another, as in the preceding instance. Or better still assit to provide an alternative arrangement. Now as the means to an end can only be agreeable, where the end is agreeable; and as the good of society, where our own interest is not concerned, or that of our friends, pleases only by sympathy: It follows, that sympathy is the source of the esteem, which we pay to all the artificial virtues. We need no other explication of that esteem, which attends such of the natural virtues, as have a tendency to the public good. We come now to the examination of such virtues and vices as are entirely natural, and have no dependance on the artifice and contrivance of men. SECT. V SOME FARTHER REFLECTIONS CONCERNING THE NATURAL VIRTUES I must farther add, that there are several circumstances, which render this hypothesis much more probable with regard to the natural than the artificial virtues.