第4章

类别:其他 作者:Biographiq字数:11345更新时间:18/12/14 12:58:46
2。Where,however,apassiontakesitsoriginfromaparticularturnoftheimagination,theimaginationofothers,nothavingacquiredthatparticularturn,cannotsympathizewiththepassion,andsofindsitinsomemeasureridiculous。Thisisparticularlythecasewiththepassionoflove。Wemaysympathizewithourfriend\'sresentment,ifhehasbeeninjured,orenterintohisgratitude,ifhehasreceivedabenefit;butifheisinlove,howeverreasonablewemaythinkit,\"thepassionappearstoeverybody,butthemanwhofeelsit,entirelydisproportionedtothevalueoftheobject;andlove,thoughitispardonedinacertainage,becauseweknowitisnatural,isalwayslaughedatbecausewecannotenterintoit。Allseriousandstrongexpressionsofitappearridiculoustoathirdperson;andthoughalovermaybegoodcompanytohismistress,heissotonobodyelse。Hehimselfissensibleofthis;and,aslongashecontinuesinhissobersenses,endeavourstotreathisownpassionwithrailleryandridicule。Itistheonlystyleinwhichwecaretohearofit,becauseitistheonlystyleinwhichweourselvesaredisposedtotalkofit。\" Ourphilosopherhoweveradmits,thatthoughwecannotproperlyenterintotheattachmentofthelover,wereadilysympathizewithhisexpectationsofhappiness。Thoughhispassioncannotinterestus,hissituationofmingledhopeandfearinterestsus,justasinthedescriptionofaseavoyageitisnotthehungerofthecrewwhichinterestsusbutthedistresswhichitoccasionsthem。Whenloveisinterestingonthestage,itissosimplyfromthedistressitoccasions。Asceneoftwolovers,inperfectsecurity,expressingtheirmutualfondnessforoneanother,wouldexcitelaughterandnotsympathy。Suchasceneisneverenduredbutfromconcernforthedangersanddifficultiesforeseeninthesequel,orfrominterestinthesecondarypassionsfear,shame,anddespairwhichareassociatedwithloveasasituation,andwithwhichalonewecanreallysympathize。 3。Inthethirdplacecometheunsocialpassions,suchashatredandresentment,withalltheirmodifications。Theyalsoarefoundedontheimagination,buthavetobeconsider-ablymodifiedbeforetheytouchthatpointofproprietywithwhichanimpartialspectatorcansympathize。 Forthesepassionsgiverisetoadoublesympathy,orratherdivideoursympathybetweenthepersonwhofeelsthemandthepersonwhoistheobjectofthem。Thoughwemaysympathizewithhimwhohasreceivedaprovocation,wealsosympathizewithhisadversary,ifhebecomestheobjectofundueresentment。Weenterintothesituationofboth,andthefearwefeelwiththeonemoderatestheresentmentwefeelwiththeother。Henceforresentmenttoattainthemeanofpropriety,itmustbemorereducedfromitsnaturaldegreethanalmostanyotherpassion;andthegreaterrestraintamanputsonhisanger,themorewillmankind,whohaveaverystrongsenseoftheinjuriesdonetoanother,enterintoandbearwithhisresentment。 Theseunsocialpassionsare,however,necessarypartsofhumannature,andasontheonehandwecannotsympathizewithexcessiveindignation,soontheotherhandweblameanddespiseaman\"whotamelysitsstillandsubmitstoinsults,\"fromourinabilitytocomprehendhisinsensibilityandwantofspirit。Thesepassionsarethereforeusefultotheindividual,asservingtoprotecthimfrominsultandinjury;butthereisstillsomethingdisagreeableinthemwhichmakestheirappearanceinothersthenaturalobjectofouraversion。Itissoevenwhentheyaremostjustlyprovoked。 Hencetheyaretheonlypassions,themereexpressionofwhichdoesnotcommandoursympathiestillweknowthecause。Thevoiceofmisery,orthesightofgladness,atoncecommunicatestouscorrespondingsentiments; butthetonesofhatredorresentmentinspireusnaturallywithfearandaversion。Forthatreasonthemusic,whichimitatessuchpassions,isnotthemostagreeable,itsperiodsbeing,unlikethosewhichexpressjoyorgrieforlove,\"irregular,sometimesveryshort,sometimesverylong,anddistinguishedbynoregularpauses。\" Forallthesereasonsitisverydifficulttoadjustresentmenttothepointofproprietydemandedbythesympathyofothers。Theprovocationmustbesuchthatweshouldincurcontemptfornotresentingit;andsmalleroffencesarebetterneglected。Weshouldresentmorefromasensethatmankindexpectitofusthanfromtheimpulseofthepassionitself。Thereisnopassionconcerningwhoseindulgenceweshouldmorecarefullyconsiderthesentimentsofthecoolandimpartialspectator。Magnanimity,oraregardtomaintainourownrankanddignity,canaloneennobleitsexpression; andweshouldshowsfromourwholemanner,thatpassionhasnotextinguishedourhumanity,andthat,ifweyieldtorevenge,wedosowithreluctanceandfromnecessity。 4。Withregardtothesocialpassions,suchasgenerosity,humanity,kindness,compassion,orfriendship,thefactsarequitedifferent。Notonlyisthemereexpressionofthesesentimentsagreeable,buttheyaremadedoublyagreeablebyadivisionofthespectator\'ssympathiesbetweenthepersonwhofeelsthemandthepersonwhoistheobjectofthem。Weenterwithpleasureintothesatisfactionofboth,intotheagreeableemotionsofthemanwhoisgenerousorcompassionate,andintotheagreeableemotionsofthemanwhoreceivesthebenefitofhisgenerosityorcompassion。 Henceinthesepassionsthepointofproprietyliesnearertotheexcessthantothedefect,justasintheoppositepassionsitlaynearertothedefect。\"Thereissomethingagreeableevenintheweaknessoffriendshipandhumanity,\"andifweblamethetootendermother,thetooindulgentfather,orthetoogenerousfriend,itisalwayswithsympathyandkindness,andwithnofeelingofhatredoraversion。 5。Betweenthesocialandtheunsocialpassionstheselfishpassionsoccupyamiddleplace。Thesearejoyandgriefforourownpersonalgoodorbadfortune。Sincenooppositesympathycaneverinterestthespectatoragainstthem,theirexcessiveexpressionisneversodisagreeableasexcessiveresentment;andforthereasonthatnodoublesympathycaneverinterestusforthem,theyareneversoagreeableasproperhumanityandbenevolence。 Weare,AdamSmiththinks,naturallydisposedtosympathizemorewithourneighbours\'smalljoysthanwiththeirgreatones,andmorewiththeirgreatsorrowsthanwiththeirsmallones。Amanraisedsuddenlytoamuchhigherpositionmaybesurethatthecongratulationsofhisbestfriendsarenotperfectlysincere。Ifhehasanyjudgment,heissensibleofthis,and,insteadofappearingelated,endeavourstosmotherhisjoy,andkeepdownhiselevationofmind。Heaffectsthesameplainnessofdress,andthesamemodestyofbehaviour,whichbecamehimbefore,andredoubleshisattentionstohisformerfriends。Sohisconductmaymeetwithourapproval,for\"weexpect,itseems,thatheshouldhavemoresympathywithourenvyandaversiontohishappinessthanwehavewithhishappiness。\" Withthesmallerjoysoflifeitisdifferent。Theabilityofthespectatorstosympathizewiththeseplacesthepointofproprietyintheirindulgencemuchhigher。Wereadilysympathizewithhabitualcheerfulness,whichspreadsitself\',asitwere,byinfection。Henceitishardlypossibletoexpresstoomuchsatisfactioninthelittleoccurrencesof\'commonlife,inthecompanyofyesterdayevening,intheentertainmentgenerally,inwhatwassaidordone,\"andinallthosefrivolousnothingswhichfillupthevoidofhumanlife。\" Itisotherwisewithgrief,forwhilesmallvexationsexcitenosympathy,deepafflictioncallsforthegreatest。Amanwillmeetwithlittlesympathy,whoishurtifhiscookorbutlerhavefailedintheleastarticleoftheirduty;whoisvexedifhisbrotherhummedatuneallthetimehewastellingastory;whoisputoutofhumourbythebadnessoftheweatherwheninthecountry,bythebadnessoftheroadswhenuponajourney,orbywantofcompanyanddulnesswhenintown。Griefispainfultoourselvesortoothers,andweshouldendeavoureithernottoconceiveitatallabouttrifles,ortoshakeitoffifwedo。Thereisacertain\"maliceinmankindwhichnotonlypreventsallsympathywithlittleuneasinesses,butrenderstheminsomemeasurediverting。\" Butthoughwealltakedelightinraillery,andinthesmallvexationswhichoccurtoourcompanions,oursympathywiththemincaseofdeepdistressisverystrongandverysincere。\"Ifyoulabourunderanysignalcalamity; ifbysomeextraordinarymisfortuneyouarefallenintopoverty,intodiseases,intodisgraceanddisappointment……youmaygenerallydependuponthesincerestsympathyofallyourfriends,and,asfarasinterestandhonourwillpermit,upontheirkindestassistancetoo。Butifyourmisfortuneisnotofthisdreadfulkind,ifyouhaveonlybeenalittlebaulkedinyourambition,ifyouhaveonlybeenjiltedbyyourmistress,orareonlyhenpeckedbyyourwife,layyouraccountwiththerailleryofallyouracquaintance。\" CHAPTERIV。THEFEELINGOFMERITANDDEMERIT。 Thesenseoftheproprietyorimproprietyofamoralactionorsentimentis,accordingtoAdamSmith,onlyonesideofthefactofmoralapprobation,asenseoftheirmeritordemeritconstitutingtheotherside。Anactionorsentimentisproperorimproperinrelationtoitscause,orthemotivewhichexcitesit,whilstitismeritoriousorthecontraryinrelationtoitseffect,orinaccordancewithitsbeneficialorhurtfultendency。 Itisimportanttonoticethisdistinction,foritisaprotest,asAdamSmithhimselfdeclares,againstthetheoriesofDr。HutchesonandHume,who,hecomplains,hadconsideredtoomuchthetendencyofaffections,theirgoodorbadresults,whilstneglectingtherelationinwhichtheystoodtotheircauses。Thiswastooverlookthefactsofcommonlife,sinceaperson\'sconductandsentimentsaregenerallyregardedunderboththeseaspects,amanreceivingblameforexcessoflove,orgrief,orresentment,notonlybyreasonoftheruinouseffectstheytendtoproduce,butalsoonaccountofthelittleoccasionthatwasgivenforthem。Itisthewantofproportionbetweenapassionanditscause,aswellasthesenseofitsdisastrouseffects,whichmakeupthewholecharacterofmoraldisapprobation。 Whilstpraiseorblameareattachedtothefirstaspectofanactionorsentiment,astrongerfeelingofsympathyorantipathyattachesitselftoeitherinconnexionwiththeireffects,afeelingthattheydeserverewardorpunishment,afeelinginotherwordsoftheirmeritordemerit。 Asgratitudeisthefeelingwhichmostdirectlypromptsustorewardanotherman,andresentmentthatwhichmostdirectlypromptsustopunishhim,anactionwillcallforrewardorpunishmentaccordingasitistheobjectofeitherofthesefeelings。Themeasure,therefore,ofthemeritordemeritofanyactionwillbethefeelingofgratitudeorresentmentitexcites。 Buthereagaintheprincipleofsympathymustcomeintoplay,todecideontherightfulnessofthegratitudeorresentment。Anactioncanonlyseemmeritoriousorthecontrary,asdeservingofrewardorpunishment,ifitistheproperandrightobjectofgratitudeorresentment;andonlythatgratitudeorresentmentcanbeproperwhichcommandsthesympathyoftheimpartialspectator。Thatman\'sactiondeservesrewardasmeritoriouswhotosomebodyistheobjectofagratitudewhicheveryhumanheartisdisposedtobeattimeto,whilsthisactionseemstodeservepunishmentasbadwhotosomebodyistheobjectofaresentmentwhicheveryreasonablemancansympathizewithandadopt。Accordingaseverybodywhohearsofanyactionwouldwishtoseeitrewardedorpunishedmayitfairlybeaccountedmeritoriousorthereverse。 Inregarding,then,thebeneficialorhurtfultendencyofactions,oursenseoftheirmeritordemerit,duetosympathywiththegratitudeortheresentmenttheyrespectivelyexcitesappearstoariseinthefollowingway。 Sympathizingaswedowiththejoyofothersinprosperity,wealsojointheminthesatisfactionwithwhichtheyregardthecauseoftheirgoodfortune。Ifthecausehasbeenaman,thisismoreespeciallythecase。Weregardhiminthesameengaginglightinwhichweimaginehemustappeartotheobjectofhisbounty,whilstoursympathywiththejoyofthelatterinspiresusalsowithareflectionofthesamegratitudehefeels。 Inthesamemannerwesympathizenotonlywiththedistressorsorrowofanother,butwiththeaversionhefeelstowardsthecauseofit。Whenweseeonemanoppressedorinjuredbyanother,oursympathywiththesuffereronlyanimatesourfellow-feelingwithhisresentmentagainsthisoppressor。 Soweevenenterintotheimaginaryresentmentoftheslain,andbyanillusivesympathywiththatresentmentwhichweknowhewouldfeel,werehealive,exactvengeancefromthecriminalwhomurderedhim。 Butalthoughoursympathywiththebeneficialresultsofanactmaythusleadustojoininthegratitudeitoccasions,andsotoregarditasmeritoriousordeservingofreward,thisisonly,ashasbeensaid,onesideoraspectofcompletemoralapprobation。Toconstitutethelatter,asenseoftheproprietyofanactionmustbejoinedtoasenseofitsmerit。;andanactionisonlythenreallygoodwhenwecansympathizewiththemotivesoftheagentaswellaswiththegratitudehisconductproduces。 Whereverwecannotenterintotheaffectionsoftheagent,whereverwecannotrecognizeanyproprietyinthemotiveswhichinfluencedhim,wefailtosympathizewiththegratitudeofthepersonhehasbefriended。 Where,forinstance,thegreatestbenefitshavebeenconferredfromthemosttrivialmotives,aswhereamangivesanestatetoanothersimplybecausehisnameorhissurnamehappentobethesameashisown,littlegratitudeseemsdue;andcon-sequentlytheaction,thoughbeneficialinitstendency,sinceitfailstocommandourcompletesympathy,failstocommandourcompleteapprobation。 Soontheotherhand,howeverhurtfulintheirtendencyaman\'sactionsorintentionsmaybe,ifwesympathizewithhismotives,thatis,ifwelookuponhimasintheright,wecanfeelnosympathywiththeresentmentofthepersoninjuriouslyaffectedbyhim。Ifhesuffersnomorethanourownsympatheticindignationwouldhavepromptedustoinflictuponhim,wehavenofellow-feelingwithhissuffering,andconsequentlynosenseofthedemeritoftheactionheregardswithresentment。Itwouldbeimpossible,forinstance,tosympathizewiththeresentmentexpressedbyamurdereragainsthisjudge。Sothattoconstitutethesentimentofcompletemoraldisapprobation,theremustbeimproprietyofmotiveonthepartoftheagentaswellasahurtfulresulttosomeoneelse;or,inotherwords,foranactiontobepronouncedbyoursympatheticimaginationcompletelybad,itmustbebothimproperinitsmotiveandinjuriousinitsresult。 Itisnotenoughforittobesimplyinjurious。 Itresultsthereforefromthisanalysis,thatacompletesenseofthemeritofanaction,orthefeelingofperfectmoralapprobation,isreally\"acompoundedsentiment,\"madeupoftwodistinctsympatheticemotions,namely,ofadirectsympathywiththesentimentsoftheagent,andanindirectsympathywiththegratitudeofthosewhoreceivethebenefitofhisactions。 TakeoursenseofthegooddesertofaparticularcharacterinhistoryScipio,Timoleon,orAristides。Inimaginationwebecomethoseverypersons,and,byadirectsympathywiththem,enterintotheirdesigns,andfeelthesamegeneroussentimentsthattheyfelt。Butwealsobyanindirectsympathyfeelthebenefitoftheirgreatactions,andenterintothegratitudeofthosewhoexperiencedthem。Thesympatheticemotionsofgratitudeandlove,whichwethusfeelwhenwebringhometoourownbreastthesituationofthoseoriginallyconcerned,accountforourwholesenseofthemeritofsuchactions,andforourdesireoftheirmeetingwithafittingrecompence。 Inthesamewayacompletesenseofthedemeritofanactionisacompoundedsentimentmadeupoftwodistinctemotions;ofadirectantipathytothesentimentsoftheagent,andanindirectsympathywiththeresentmentofthesufferer。WefeeladirectantipathytothedetestablesentimentswhichactuatedaBorgiaoraNero,whilewesympathizeindirectlywiththeresentmentofthosetheyafflicted。Oursenseoftheatrocityoftheirconduct,andourdelightinhearingofitspunishmentinshort,ourwholefeelingofilldesert,andofthejusticeofinflictingevilonthepersonwhoisguiltyofit,andofmakinghimgrieveinhisturnarisesfromthesympatheticindignationwhichboilsupinourbreastwheneverwethoroughlybringhometoourselvesthecaseofthesufferer。 Norisitanydegradationofoursenseofthedemeritofactionstoascribeittooursympathywiththeresentmentofanother。Resentmentisineveryrespectthecounterpartofgratitude,andifoursenseofmeritarisesfromoursympathywiththeone,oursenseofdemeritmaywellarisefromoursympathywiththeother。Resentment,too,asaprincipleofhumannature,isonlyevilwhenitappearsinexcessasrevenge;andasitisexcessiveahundredtimesforoncethatitismoderate,weareapttoconsideritaltogetherdetestable,becauseinitsordinarymanifestationitisso。 Butitisnotdisapprovedofwhenproperlyhumbled,andentirelybroughtdowntothelevelofthesympatheticindignationofthespectator。Whenweasbystandersentertainananimositycorrespondingtothatofthesufferer,whenhisresentmentinnorespectexceedsourown,whennowordnorgestureescapeshimthatdenotesanemotionmoreviolentthanwecanshare,andwhenheneveraimsatinflictingapunishmentsevererthanthatweshouldrejoicetoseeinflictedorwouldinflictourselves,itisimpossiblethatweshouldnotentirelyapproveofhissentiments。 ItappearstheninAdamSmith\'stheory,thattheelementofmoralityinactionsonlyreallyarisesfromreferencetotheirtendency。Thesentimentoraffectionoftheheartfromwhichallactionresultsmayinrelationtoitscauseormotiveberegardedasunsuitableordisproportionate,accordingasitexceedsorfallsshortofthatmeanpointwithwhichthegeneralobservercansympathize。Itmaybethusapprovedordisapprovedasproperorimproper,butitisnotapplaudedorcondemnedasmoralorimmoral。 Anangerwhichisoutofproportiontothecauseofitsprovocation,astateofjoyorsorrowoutofkeepingwiththeirorigin,agenerosityorbenevolencethatseemexcessive,areblamednotasimmoral,butasoutofharmonywiththefeelingsofaspectator。Sowithreferencetothebodilypassions,itistheofficeoftemperancetoconfinethemwithinthoselimits\"whichgrace,whichpropriety,whichdelicacy,andmodestyrequire,\"(notwithinthosewhichmoralityrequire)。Itisonlywhenregardispaidtotheeffectswhichflowfromdifferentactions,thatastrongerfeelingappears,afeelingnotmerelyofproprietyorim-propriety,butoftheirmeritordemerit,orinotherwords,oftheirmoralworthorthecontrary。 Itisonlyactionsofabeneficenttendency,whichproceedfrompropermotives,thatarethusmeritorious,forsuchactionsaloneseemtodeserveareward,fromthegratitudetheycommandfromaspectatorthroughsympathy。Anditisonlyactionsofahurtfultendency,whichproceedfromimpropermotives,thatseemreallywicked,fortheyaloneseemtodeserveapunishment,fromtheresentmenttheyinspireaspectatorwithbysympathy。 AdamSmithillustrateshistheorythatthewrongfulnessordemeritofactionsdependsonoursenseoftheirdeservingtobepunishedbythetwovirtuesofbeneficenceandjustice。Themerewantofbeneficence,theneglecttodothegoodexpectedofone,maygiverisetofeelingsofdislikeanddis-approbation,butasitdoesnorealpositiveevil,itprovokesnofeelingofsympatheticresentment。Takeacaseoftheblackestingratitude,whereamanfailstorecompensehisbenefactor,whenthelatterstandsingreatneedofhisassistance。Everyimpartialspectatorrejectsallfellow-feelingwiththeselfishnessofhismotives,andheistheproperobjectofthehighestdisapprobation。Stillsincehedoesnopositivehurt,butonlyneglectstodothegoodhemight,heistheobjectofhatred,notofresentment,twopassionswhichdifferinthisrespect,thatwhilsttheformeriscalledforthbyimproprietyofsentimentandbehaviour,thelatterisonlyprovokedbyactionswhichtendtodorealandpositivehurttosomeparticularpersons。Ingratitudethereforecannotbepunished。 Itisimproper,andmeetswiththedisapprobationofthespectator,butitisnotwrongorimmoral,in。thesenseinwhichitwouldbe,ifitwentastepfurther,andraisedafeelingofresentmentbyactualhurtfulnessoftendencyagainstsomebody。 Theproperdegreeofbeneficence,moreover,asthatwhichordinaryexperienceleadsustoexpect,andalsomakesthemeasureofourpraiseorblame,isinitselfneitherpraiseworthynorblameable。Asitisonlythedefectofordinarybeneficencewhichincursourblame,soitisonlytheexcessofitwhichdeservesourpraise。Afather,orson,orbrother,whobehavestothecorrespondentrelationneitherbetternorworsethantheaverageofmankinddo,seemstodeserveneitherpraisenorblame。Hisconduct,thoughitmayattainthatpointatwhichwerecognizeitsproprietyandsocommandourapprobation,commandsnothingmore。Itisonlywhenwearesurprisedbyunexpected,thoughproperkindness,orbyunexpectedandimproperunkindness,thatitattainsthepointofbeingpraiseworthyorthereverse。 Beneficence,whenitthusattainsahighdegree,whenitbecomesproductiveofthegreatestgood,atoncebecomestheobjectoftheliveliestgratitude,appearstobedeservingofthehighestreward,andconsequentlyappearsasmeritoriousandpraiseworthy。 Thevirtueofjusticediffersfromthatofbeneficenceinthattheviolationofit,bydoingrealandpositivehurttosomeparticularpersons,frommotivesthataredisapprovedof,isthenaturalobjectofresentment,andcallsinconsequenceforpunishment。Resentmentwasgiventous\"bynaturefordefence,andfordefenceonly。Itisthesafeguardofjusticeandthesecurityofinnocence。Itpromptsustobeatoffthemischiefwhichisattemptedtobedonetous,andtoretaliatethatwhichisalreadydone,thattheoffendermaybemadetorepentofhisinjustice,andthatothers,throughfearofthelikepunishment,maybeterrifiedfrombeingguiltyofthelikeoffence。\"Asmankindgenerallyapproveoftheviolenceemployedtoavengethehurtwhichis,donebyinjustice,sotheymuchmoreapproveofthatwhichisemployedtopre-ventandbeatofftheinjury,andtorestraintheoffenderfromhurtinghisneighbour。Eventhepersonguiltyofintendinginjusticefeelsthatforcemaybeusedagainsthim,bothbythepersonheisabouttoinjure,orbyothers,eithertoobstructtheexecutionofhiscrime,ortopunishhimwhenhehasexecutedit。 Thisfactaccountsforthegreatdistinctionbetweenjusticeandalltheothersocialvirtues,thatwefeelahigherobligationtoactaccordingtojusticethanaccordingtofriendship,charity,orgenerosity;andthat,whilethepracticeofthelattervirtuesseemstobeleftinsomemeasuretoourownchoice,wefeelourselvestobe\"inapeculiarmannertied,bound,andobligedtotheobservationofjustice。\"Forwefeelthatforcemay,withtheutmostpropriety,andwiththeapprobationofmankind,bemadeuseoftocompelustoobservetherulesoftheone,butnottofollowthepreceptsoftheothers。 Itisthisfeeling,then,ofthelegitimateuseofforceandpunishmentwhichmakesusviewwithsomuchstrongerasenseofdisapprobationactionswhichareunjustthatis,injurioustoothersthanactionswhicharemerelybreachesofthatproprietywhichweliketoseeobservedinthevariousrelationshipsthatconnectmentogether。Afatherwhofailsintheordinarydegreeofparentalaffectiontoason,orasonwhoiswantinginfilialrespectforhisfather,oramanwhoshutsuphisheartagainstcompassion,incur,indeed,blame;butnotthatsuperiordegreeofblamewhichrelatestoactionsofapositivelyhurtfultendency。 Butthoughthissuperiorformofdisapprobationattachesitselftoactsofinjustice,justasasuperiorformofapprobationattachesitselftoactnsofgreatbeneficence,thereisnomoremeritintheobservanceofjusticethanthereisdemeritintheneglectofbeneficence。\"Thereis,nodoubt,aproprietyinthepracticeofjustice,anditmeritsuponthataccountalltheapprobationwhichisduetopropriety。Butasitdoesnorealpositivegood,itisentitledtoverylittlegratitude。Merejusticeis,uponmostoccasions,butanegativevirtue,andonlyhindersusfromhurtingourneighbour。Themanwhobarelyabstainsfromviolatingeitherthepersonortheestateorthereputationofhisneighbours,hassurelyverylittlepositivemerit……Wemayoftenfulfilalltherulesofjusticebysittingstillanddoingnothing。\"Asbeforeexplained,thesenseofthemeritofanactionisdifferentfromthesenseofitspropriety,andunlessanactionhasboththesecharacteristics,itdoesnotreallysatisfytheconditionsofmorality。 Inproportion,therefore,totheresentmentnaturallyfeltbyasuffererfrominjusticeisthesympatheticindignationofthespectator,andthesenseofguiltintheagent。Buttheresentmentitself,beingproportionedtotheevildonebyanact,thedemeritofanactmaybemeasuredbytheevilitcauses。Deathbeingthegreatestevilonemancandotoanother,andconsequentlyincurringthehighestindignationfromthoseconnectedwiththeslainman,takesrankastheworstofallcrimes。Injuriestoaman\'spropertyandpossessionsbeinglesshurtfultohimthananinjurytohislifeorperson,theftandrobberyranknexttomurderinatrocity。 Andasitisasmallereviltobedisappointedofwhatwehaveonlyinexpectationthantobedeprivedofwhatwehaveinpossession,breachofcontractisalessheinouscrimethanonewhichattacksaman\'sactualproperty。 CHAPTERV。INFLUENCEOFPROSPERITYORADVERSITY,CHANCE,AND