2 Diversity of Ethical Theories. 



indeed, it is a simple matter of history that the 

 antinomies of our ethical systems have not origi 

 nated in a distinct consciousness of differences in 

 moral codes, for these systems are almost always 

 theories, not of varying universal morality, but 

 of the common morality of the modern civilized 

 world. The contrast, therefore, between the uni 

 formity of moral data and the diversity of so- 

 called moral sciences suffers no diminution from 

 the circumstance that that uniformity may be to 

 some extent relative. The broad fact remains, 

 that while all are agreed that certain courses of 

 conduct are right and the opposite wrong, moral 

 ists seem unable to agree in anything except the 

 contradictory claim of building their incompatible 

 theories upon these universally recognized propo 

 sitions. - 



There can be no question about the existence 

 of this fundamental antinomy. It is admitted, 

 or rather it is accentuated, by the ablest writers 

 on morals. Nor has any attempt, I believe, ever 

 been made to explain it away. But while it is 

 mentioned as a commonplace, and put aside as if 

 from fear of demonstrating a truism, its conse 

 quences have been steadily overlooked. No one 

 has inquired whether a subject-matter which has 

 begotten such contradictions really admits of 



