22 A THEORY OF LIFE DEDUCED 



as used by civilized men. When we ask the question : 

 "Which is the best?" we make the tacit assumption, 

 universally concurred in among ourselves, that we all want 

 to extract as much happiness out of life as is possible. 

 All men agree, then, that the greatest attainable happiness 

 is the ultimate aim of life. I say designedly " ultimate " 

 aim ; because there are those who deny that they make 

 happiness the final object of pursuit, and think that they 

 are acting in perfect consonance with the denial in choosing 

 such ends as perfection, virtue, and so forth. Invariably, 

 however, analysis shows that they choose some other 

 proximate aim, simply because happiness is unconsciously 

 made the ultimate end. Restated, then, the problem 

 assumes this form : Which of the four kinds of aggregate 

 life is productive of the greatest possible happiness ? I say 

 designedly " the greatest possible happiness." Not perfect 

 happiness ; for observe that happiness is not solely depen- 

 dent upon human conduct. Even in a state composed of 

 ideal men there may be causes of unhappiness, due to the 

 destructive forces in nature. Over these mankind may 

 never gain complete control. The elements can do a great 

 deal towards destroying happiness, and, so long as we do 

 not see our way clear to say of the- destructive forces in 

 nature that they will ultimately behave towards mankind 

 like perfectly ethical men, we cannot consistently argue 011 

 a contrary hypothesis. Bearing, then, this qualification in 

 mind, let us try briefly to determine which of the four 

 enumerated states of corporate life must be productive of 

 the greatest happiness. But now a new difficulty confronts 

 us. How is it possible amid so much diversity of opinion 

 to agree upon any common standard of happiness ? A, let 

 us say, takes delight in music; B's hobby is hunting; while 

 C is passionately fond of the drama, and so on ; who shall 



