234 HUME xi 



" Were the human species so framed by nature as that 

 each individual possessed within himself every faculty 

 requisite both for his own preservation and for the pro- 

 pagation of his kind : Were all society and intercourse 

 cut off between man and man by the primary intention 

 of the Supreme Creator: It seems evident that so soli- 

 tary a being would be as much incapable of justice as of 

 social discourse and conversation. Where mutual regard 

 and forbearance serve to no manner of purpose, they would 

 never direct the conduct of any reasonable man. The 

 headlong course of the passions would be checked by no 

 reflection on future consequences. And as each man is 

 here supposed to love himself alone, and to depend only 

 on himself and his own activity for safety and happiness, 

 he would, on every occasion, to the utmost of his power, 

 challenge the preference above every other being, to none 

 of which he is bound by any ties, either of nature or of 

 interest. 



" But suppose the conjunction of the sexes to be estab- 

 lished in nature, a family immediately arises ; and particu- 

 lar rules being found requisite for its subsistence, these are 

 immediately embraced, though without comprehending the 

 rest of mankind within their prescriptions. Suppose that 

 several families unite together in one society, which is to- 

 tally disjoined from all others, the rules which preserve 

 peace and order enlarge themselves to the utmost extent of 

 that society ; but becoming then entirely useless, lose their 

 force when carried one step further. But again, suppose 

 that several distinct societies maintain a kind of intercourse 

 for mutual convenience and advantage, the boundaries of 

 justice still grow larger, in proportion to the largeness of 

 men's views and the force of their mutual connexion. His- 

 tory, experience, reason, sufficiently instruct us in this 

 natural progress of human sentiments, and in the gradual 

 enlargement of our regard to justice in proportion as we 

 become acquainted with the extensive utility of that vir- 

 tue." (IV. pp. 262-4.)' 



