第 3 节
作者:莫再讲      更新:2021-02-20 15:52      字数:9322
  and the whole rule of its conduct; would be far more surely prescribed
  to it by instinct; and that end would have been attained thereby
  much more certainly than it ever can be by reason。 Should reason
  have been communicated to this favoured creature over and above; it
  must only have served it to contemplate the happy constitution of
  its nature; to admire it; to congratulate itself thereon; and to
  feel thankful for it to the beneficent cause; but not that it should
  subject its desires to that weak and delusive guidance and meddle
  bunglingly with the purpose of nature。 In a word; nature would have
  taken care that reason should not break forth into practical exercise;
  nor have the presumption; with its weak insight; to think out for
  itself the plan of happiness; and of the means of attaining it。 Nature
  would not only have taken on herself the choice of the ends; but
  also of the means; and with wise foresight would have entrusted both
  to instinct。
  And; in fact; we find that the more a cultivated reason applies
  itself with deliberate purpose to the enjoyment of life and happiness;
  so much the more does the man fail of true satisfaction。 And from this
  circumstance there arises in many; if they are candid enough to
  confess it; a certain degree of misology; that is; hatred of reason;
  especially in the case of those who are most experienced in the use of
  it; because after calculating all the advantages they derive; I do not
  say from the invention of all the arts of common luxury; but even from
  the sciences (which seem to them to be after all only a luxury of
  the understanding); they find that they have; in fact; only brought
  more trouble on their shoulders。 rather than gained in happiness;
  and they end by envying; rather than despising; the more common
  stamp of men who keep closer to the guidance of mere instinct and do
  not allow their reason much influence on their conduct。 And this we
  must admit; that the judgement of those who would very much lower
  the lofty eulogies of the advantages which reason gives us in regard
  to the happiness and satisfaction of life; or who would even reduce
  them below zero; is by no means morose or ungrateful to the goodness
  with which the world is governed; but that there lies at the root of
  these judgements the idea that our existence has a different and far
  nobler end; for which; and not for happiness; reason is properly
  intended; and which must; therefore; be regarded as the supreme
  condition to which the private ends of man must; for the most part; be
  postponed。
  For as reason is not competent to guide the will with certainty in
  regard to its objects and the satisfaction of all our wants (which
  it to some extent even multiplies); this being an end to which an
  implanted instinct would have led with much greater certainty; and
  since; nevertheless; reason is imparted to us as a practical
  faculty; i。e。; as one which is to have influence on the will;
  therefore; admitting that nature generally in the distribution of
  her capacities has adapted the means to the end; its true
  destination must be to produce a will; not merely good as a means to
  something else; but good in itself; for which reason was absolutely
  necessary。 This will then; though not indeed the sole and complete
  good; must be the supreme good and the condition of every other;
  even of the desire of happiness。 Under these circumstances; there is
  nothing inconsistent with the wisdom of nature in the fact that the
  cultivation of the reason; which is requisite for the first and
  unconditional purpose; does in many ways interfere; at least in this
  life; with the attainment of the second; which is always
  conditional; namely; happiness。 Nay; it may even reduce it to nothing;
  without nature thereby failing of her purpose。 For reason recognizes
  the establishment of a good will as its highest practical destination;
  and in attaining this purpose is capable only of a satisfaction of its
  own proper kind; namely that from the attainment of an end; which
  end again is determined by reason only; notwithstanding that this
  may involve many a disappointment to the ends of inclination。
  We have then to develop the notion of a will which deserves to be
  highly esteemed for itself and is good without a view to anything
  further; a notion which exists already in the sound natural
  understanding; requiring rather to be cleared up than to be taught;
  and which in estimating the value of our actions always takes the
  first place and constitutes the condition of all the rest。 In order to
  do this; we will take the notion of duty; which includes that of a
  good will; although implying certain subjective restrictions and
  hindrances。 These; however; far from concealing it; or rendering it
  unrecognizable; rather bring it out by contrast and make it shine
  forth so much the brighter。
  I omit here all actions which are already recognized as inconsistent
  with duty; although they may be useful for this or that purpose; for
  with these the question whether they are done from duty cannot arise
  at all; since they even conflict with it。 I also set aside those
  actions which really conform to duty; but to which men have no
  direct inclination; performing them because they are impelled
  thereto by some other inclination。 For in this case we can readily
  distinguish whether the action which agrees with duty is done from
  duty; or from a selfish view。 It is much harder to make this
  distinction when the action accords with duty and the subject has
  besides a direct inclination to it。 For example; it is always a matter
  of duty that a dealer should not over charge an inexperienced
  purchaser; and wherever there is much commerce the prudent tradesman
  does not overcharge; but keeps a fixed price for everyone; so that a
  child buys of him as well as any other。 Men are thus honestly
  served; but this is not enough to make us believe that the tradesman
  has so acted from duty and from principles of honesty: his own
  advantage required it; it is out of the question in this case to
  suppose that he might besides have a direct inclination in favour of
  the buyers; so that; as it were; from love he should give no advantage
  to one over another。 Accordingly the action was done neither from duty
  nor from direct inclination; but merely with a selfish view。
  On the other hand; it is a duty to maintain one's life; and; in
  addition; everyone has also a direct inclination to do so。 But on this
  account the of anxious care which most men take for it has no
  intrinsic worth; and their maxim has no moral import。 They preserve
  their life as duty requires; no doubt; but not because duty
  requires。 On the other band; if adversity and hopeless sorrow have
  completely taken away the relish for life; if the unfortunate one;
  strong in mind; indignant at his fate rather than desponding or
  dejected; wishes for death; and yet preserves his life without
  loving it… not from inclination or fear; but from duty… then his maxim
  has a moral worth。
  To be beneficent when we can is a duty; and besides this; there
  are many minds so sympathetically constituted that; without any
  other motive of vanity or self…interest; they find a pleasure in
  spreading joy around them and can take delight in the satisfaction
  of others so far as it is their own work。 But I maintain that in
  such a case an action of this kind; however proper; however amiable it
  may be; bas nevertheless no true moral worth; but is on a level with
  other inclinations; e。g。; the inclination to honour; which; if it is
  happily directed to that which is in fact of public utility and
  accordant with duty and consequently honourable; deserves praise and
  encouragement; but not esteem。 For the maxim lacks the moral import;
  namely; that such actions be done from duty; not from inclination。 Put
  the case that the mind of that philanthropist were clouded by sorrow
  of his own; extinguishing all sympathy with the lot of others; and
  that; while he still has the power to benefit others in distress; he
  is not touched by their trouble because he is absorbed with his own;
  and now suppose that he tears himself out of this dead
  insensibility; and performs the action without any inclination to
  it; but simply from duty; then first has his action its genuine
  moral worth。 Further still; if nature bas put little sympathy in the
  heart of this or that man; if he; supposed to be an upright man; is by
  temperament cold and indifferent to the sufferings of others;
  perhaps because in respect of his own he is provided with the
  special gift of patience and fortitude and supposes; or even requires;
  that others should have the same… and such a man would certainly not
  be the meanest product of nature… but if nature had not specially
  framed him for a philanthropist; would he not still find in himself
  a source from whence to give himself a far higher worth than that of a
  good…natured temperament could be? Unquestionably。 It is just in
  this that