The Philosophy of the Moral Feelings | Page 2

DEITY.
* * * * *
PART I.
THE DESIRES--THE AFFECTIONS--AND SELF-LOVE.
SECTION I.
THE DESIRES 36
1. Desire of the Animal Propensities 37
2. Desire of Wealth--Avarice 38
3. Desire of Power--Ambition 39
4. Desire of Superiority--Emulation 40
5. Desire of Society 41
6. Desire of Esteem or Approbation 42
7. Desire of Knowledge 46
8. Desire of Moral Improvement 47
-- Desire of Action 49
Importance of a Due Regulation of the Desires 50
SECTION II.
THE AFFECTIONS 53
I. JUSTICE 55
1. Justice to the Interests of others--Integrity 59
2. Justice to the Freedom of Action of others 59
3. Justice to the Reputation of others 60
4. Justice in estimating the Conduct and Character of others 61
5. Justice to the Opinions of others--Candour 62
6. Justice to the Feelings of others 63
7. Justice to the Moral Condition of others 64
II. COMPASSION AND BENEVOLENCE 66
1. Benevolence towards the Distresses of others 69
2. Benevolence towards the Reputation of others 70
3. Benevolence towards the Character and Conduct of others,--including Forgiveness of Injuries 71
4. Benevolence towards the Feelings of others 71
5. Benevolence towards improving the Moral Condition of others 73
III. VERACITY 74
1. The Love of Truth, in the Reception of it 76
2. Veracity in delivering statements,--including Sincerity 78
3. Truth of Purpose, or Correct fulfilment of Promises 82
IV. FRIENDSHIP, LOVE, AND GRATITUDE 83
V. PATRIOTISM 84
THE DOMESTIC AFFECTIONS 85
THE DEFENSIVE AFFECTIONS, ANGER, JEALOUSY, RESENTMENT 89
Important Influence produced upon the Exercise of the Affections,
By Attention 92
By Habit 97
Feeling of Moral Approbation attached to the Exercise of the Affections 100
Happiness arising from a due Exercise of the Affections;--Influence of Temper 106
SECTION III.
SELF-LOVE 110
Sense in which the term is employed 111
Tendency of a true and Rational Self-love 111
Morbid Exercise of it,--Selfishness 116
Disinterested Conduct and Self-denial 117
* * * * *
PART II.
OF THE WILL 119
Simple Volition, its Origin from one of the Desires or Affections 119
Operation of Moral Causes on the Will 120
Nature of these Causes, and Source of the Diversity of their operation in different individuals 123
Circumstances required for the Uniformity of their Operation:--
1. Knowledge 128
Truths of Natural and Revealed Religion.
2. Attention 132
Its influence on Moral Decisions.
3. Moral Habits 137
Origin and Progress of Derangement of Moral Harmony.
Influence of Habits upon Character 142
Means of Correcting Injurious Moral Habits 143
Practical Conclusions from these Principles. Important Influence of Moral Habits 145
Necessity and Probability of Divine Aid in correcting Moral Derangement 149
Influence of the Mental operation called Faith 152
* * * * *
PART III.
OF THE MORAL PRINCIPLE, OR CONSCIENCE 155
Proofs of the Existence of Conscience as a Distinct Principle of the mind 156
Nature of its Operation as the Regulating Principle 157
Analogy between it and Reason 158
Its Influence in conveying an Impression of the Moral Attributes of the Deity 163
Knowledge derived from this Source 164
Comparison of the Divine Attributes with the Actual State of Man 167
Difficulties arising from this Comparison removed only by the Christian Revelation 169
Mental Process by which the Regulating Power of Conscience is Impaired or Lost 172
Influence of this Condition upon the Judgment in regard to Moral Truth 176
Influence of Attention in Moral Decisions 179
Man's responsibility for his belief 182 Important relation between Moral Emotions and voluntary Intellectual Processes 183
APPENDIX TO PART III.
�� 1.--OF THE ORIGIN AND IMMUTABILITY OF MORAL DISTINCTIONS AND THEORIES OF MORALS 190
Origin of Our Idea of Virtue and Vice 193
System of Mandeville 195
System of Clarke and Wollaston 197
System of Utility 198
Selfish System 199
System of Paley 201
Defect of these Systems in not acknowledging the Supreme Authority of Conscience 206
Objections to the belief of a uniformity of Moral Feeling which have been founded on the practices of barbarous nations 216
System of Dr. Smith, or Theory of Sympathy 219
Province of Reason in Moral Decisions 222
Remarks on the Observations of some late Writers respecting the Corruption of Conscience 227
�� 2.--OF THE HARMONY OF THE MORAL FEELINGS 231
Consistency of Character arising from this Harmony,--and Defects of Character to which it is opposed 237
* * * * *
PART IV.
OF THE MORAL RELATION OF MAN TOWARDS THE DEITY 243
View of the Divine Character in reference to this Regulation 244
Regulation of the Moral Feelings which ought to arise out of it 245
1. Habitual effort to cultivate a Sense of the Divine Presence, and to regulate the Moral Feelings and Character by it 245
2. Submission to the appointments of Providence 252
3. Sense of Moral Imperfection and Guilt, and Supplication for Mercy, with Reliance on Divine Aid 254
4. Sense of Gratitude, Affection, and Love 255
Conduct and Character arising out of this Condition of the Moral Feelings 256
Means of Cultivating it 262
Nature and Operation of Faith 264
Province of Faith in the Philosophy of the Moral Feelings 269
Truths which are its more Immediate Object 273
Its Influence on the Moral Condition 276
Province of Faith in the Scheme of Christianity 282
Certain Errors regarding Faith 287
Harmony of Christian Truth with the Philosophy of the Moral Feelings 290

PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS.

SECT. I.
NATURE AND IMPORTANCE OF THE SCIENCE OF THE MORAL FEELINGS.
Man is to be contemplated as an intellectual, and as a moral being. By