An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals | Page 5

sense; whether, like all sound
judgement of truth and falsehood, they should be the same to every rational intelligent
being; or whether, like the perception of beauty and deformity, they be founded entirely
on the particular fabric and constitution of the human species.
The ancient philosophers, though they often affirm, that virtue is nothing but conformity
to reason, yet, in general, seem to consider morals as deriving their existence from taste
and sentiment. On the other hand, our modern enquirers, though they also talk much of
the beauty of virtue, and deformity of vice, yet have commonly endeavoured to account
for these distinctions by metaphysical reasonings, and by deductions from the most
abstract principles of the understanding. Such confusion reigned in these subjects, that an
opposition of the greatest consequence could prevail between one system and another,
and even in the parts of almost each individual system; and yet nobody, till very lately,
was ever sensible of it. The elegant Lord Shaftesbury, who first gave occasion to remark
this distinction, and who, in general, adhered to the principles of the ancients, is not,
himself, entirely free from the same confusion.
It must be acknowledged, that both sides of the question are susceptible of specious
arguments. Moral distinctions, it may be said, are discernible by pure reason: else,

whence the many disputes that reign in common life, as well as in philosophy, with
regard to this subject: the long chain of proofs often produced on both sides; the
examples cited, the authorities appealed to, the analogies employed, the fallacies detected,
the inferences drawn, and the several conclusions adjusted to their proper principles.
Truth is disputable; not taste: what exists in the nature of things is the standard of our
judgement; what each man feels within himself is the standard of sentiment. Propositions
in geometry may be proved, systems in physics may be controverted; but the harmony of
verse, the tenderness of passion, the brilliancy of wit, must give immediate pleasure. No
man reasons concerning another's beauty; but frequently concerning the justice or
injustice of his actions. In every criminal trial the first object of the prisoner is to disprove
the facts alleged, and deny the actions imputed to him: the second to prove, that, even if
these actions were real, they might be justified, as innocent and lawful. It is confessedly
by deductions of the understanding, that the first point is ascertained: how can we
suppose that a different faculty of the mind is employed in fixing the other? On the other
hand, those who would resolve all moral determinations into sentiment, may endeavour
to show, that it is impossible for reason ever to draw conclusions of this nature. To virtue,
say they, it belongs to be amiable, and vice odious. This forms their very nature or
essence. But can reason or argumentation distribute these different epithets to any
subjects, and pronounce beforehand, that this must produce love, and that hatred? Or
what other reason can we ever assign for these affections, but the original fabric and
formation of the human mind, which is naturally adapted to receive them?
The end of all moral speculations is to teach us our duty; and, by proper representations
of the deformity of vice and beauty of virtue, beget correspondent habits, and engage us
to avoid the one, and embrace the other. But is this ever to be expected from inferences
and conclusions of the understanding, which of themselves have no hold of the affections
or set in motion the active powers of men? They discover truths: but where the truths
which they discover are indifferent, and beget no desire or aversion, they can have no
influence on conduct and behaviour. What is honourable, what is fair, what is becoming,
what is noble, what is generous, takes possession of the heart, and animates us to embrace
and maintain it. What is intelligible, what is evident, what is probable, what is true,
procures only the cool assent of the understanding; and gratifying a speculative curiosity,
puts an end to our researches.
Extinguish all the warm feelings and prepossessions in favour of virtue, and all disgust or
aversion to vice: render men totally indifferent towards these distinctions; and morality is
no longer a practical study, nor has any tendency to regulate our lives and actions.
These arguments on each side (and many more might be produced) are so plausible, that I
am apt to suspect, they may, the one as well as the other, be solid and satisfactory, and
that reason and sentiment concur in almost all moral determinations and conclusions. The
final sentence, it is probable, which pronounces characters and actions amiable or odious,
praise-worthy or blameable; that which stamps on them the mark of honour or infamy,
approbation or censure; that which renders morality an active