Associated Motives Multiplex 183 



ceptions. If his perception of good is at fault, it must 

 first be improved by education, so that the action will be- 

 come acceptable. Here lies the need of discussion and agree- 

 ment, upon the desirability of such benefits as are suggested 

 by the intellectual motives of conduct, previous to their 

 actual operation. 



The attitude of self -governance as a persisting factor in 

 conduct is one which could not entirely disappear, even in 

 the highest of motives, so long as life depends upon econom- 

 ical efficiency. Suppose that eff'ort for others is a virtue, 

 good in itself, even if made without the consent or desire of 

 the object; then we would promote a system of activity on 

 behalf of certain creatures, by others who knew less of their 

 needs — while these in turn must labor for their benefactors, 

 of whose wants they are ill-informed. Each group will thus 

 be concerned most in the business of which its experience is 

 least, and such a system would be absurd. Moreover, it is 

 essentially intolerant, while true altruism is essentially 

 tolerant. It is common knowledge that those who seek to 

 enforce benefits upon others are least inclined to have others 

 direct them. Such activity is in fact the gratifying of 

 egotism and not of altruism. The goodness of help is 

 perceived to be measured in its acceptability; and that too 

 in terms of the understanding of the object. 



In associated conduct the activities thus proceeding, in 

 balance between the active impulse to sustain and benefit 

 one's self and the restraint imposed by regard for one's 

 neighbor, are the results of these two forces maintained in 

 equilibrium. The normal conduct is that which obeys both 

 in due proportion. The neighbor enjoys part of the bene- 



