On Compromise

On Compromise, by John Morley

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Title: On Compromise
Author: John Morley
Release Date: March 13, 2004 [EBook #11557]
Language: English
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ON COMPROMISE
'It makes all the difference in the world whether we put Truth in the first place or in the
second place.'
WHATLEY

ON COMPROMISE
BY
JOHN MORLEY
MACMILLAN AND CO., LIMITED
ST. MARTIN'S STREET, LONDON
1908

This Edition first printed 1886

NOTE.
The writer has availed himself of the opportunity of a new edition to add three or four
additional illustrations in the footnotes. The criticisms on the first edition call for no
remark, excepting this, perhaps, that the present little volume has no pretensions to be
anything more than an Essay. To judge such it performance as if it professed to be an
exhaustive Treatise in casuistry, is to subject it to tests which it was never designed to
bear. Merely to open questions, to indicate points, to suggest cases, to sketch outlines,--as
an Essay does all these things,--may often be a process not without its own modest
usefulness and interest.
May 4, 1877.

CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTORY.
Design of this Essay The question stated Suggested by some existing tendencies in
England Comparison with other countries Test of this comparison The absent quality
specifically defined History and decay of some recent aspirations Illustrations
Characteristics of one present mood Analysis of its causes (1) Influence of French
examples (2) Influence of the Historic Method (3) Influence of the Newspaper Press (4)
Increase of material prosperity (5) Transformation of the spiritual basis of thought (6)
Influence of a State Church
CHAPTER II.
OF THE POSSIBLE UTILITY OF ERROR
Questions of a dual doctrine lies at the outset of our inquiry This doctrine formulated
Marks the triumph of status quo Psychological vindication of such a doctrine Answered
by assertion of the dogmatic character of popular belief And the pernicious social
influence of its priests The root idea of the defenders of a dual doctrine Thesis of the
present chapter, against that idea Examination of some of the pleas for error I. That a
false opinion may be clothed with good associations II. That all minds are not open to
reason III. That a false opinion, considered in relation to the general mental attitude, may
be less hurtful than its premature demolition IV. That mere negative truth is not a guide V.
That error has been a stepping-stone to truth We cannot tell how much truth has been
missed Inevitableness is not utility

CHAPTER III.
INTELLECTUAL RESPONSIBILITY AND THE POLITICAL SPIRIT.
The modern disciplina arcani Hume's immoral advice Evil intellectual effects of immoral
compromise Depravation that follows its grosser forms The three provinces of
compromise Radical importance of their separation Effects of their confusion in practical
politics Economy or management in the Formation of opinion Its lawfulness turns on the
claims of majority and minority over one another Thesis of the present chapter Its
importance, owing to the supremacy of the political spirit in England Effects of the
predominance of this spirit Contrasted with epochs of intellectual responsibility A
modern movement against the political spirit An objection considered Importance to
character of rationalised conviction, and of ideals The absence of them attenuates conduct
Illustrations in modern politics Modern latitudinarianism Illustration in two supreme
issues Pascal's remarks upon a state of Doubt Dr. Newman on the same Three ways of
dealing with the issues Another illustration of intellectual improbity The Savoyard Vicar
Mischievousness of substituting spiritual self-indulgence for reason
CHAPTER IV.
RELIGIOUS CONFORMITY.
Compromise in Expression Touches religion rather than politics Hume on non-resistance
Reason why rights of free speech do not exactly coincide with rights of free thought
Digression into the matter of free speech Dissent no longer railing and vituperative
Tendency of modern free thought to assimilate some elements from the old faith A wide
breach still remains Heresy, however, no longer traced to depravity Tolerance not
necessarily acquiescence in scepticism Object of the foregoing digression The rarity of
plain-speaking a reason why it is painful Conformity in the relationship between child
and parent Between husband and wife In the education of children The case of an
unbelieving priest The case of one who fears to lose his influence Conformity not
harmless nor unimportant
CHAPTER V.
THE REALISATION OF OPINION.
The application of opinion to conduct Tempering considerations Not to