Sheldon — The Literature of Ethical Science. 123 



" That we place a value upon things, that we call them right or good, 

 wrong or bad, is the important fact in ethics, is what makes a science of 

 ethics possible." — " Introduction to Ethics," by Frank Thilly. 



•* Practical Philosophy may be defined, at least provisionally, as the science 

 of the causes which determine human action or conduct, and of the differ- 

 ences which distinguish one kind of action or one mode of conduct from 

 another. Corresponding to this science, there will be an art, the art of 

 regulating conduct, whether that conduct be our own or the conduct of 

 others." — " The Principles of Morals," by Fowler and Wilson. 



*'The aim of ethics is to render scientific, i. e., true, and as far as pos- 

 sible systematic — the apparent cognitions that most men have of the Tight- 

 ness or reasonableness of conduct, whether the conduct be considered as 

 right in itself, or as the means to some end conceived as ultimately 

 good." — *• The Methods of Ethics," by Henry Sidgwick. 



*' Ethics deals with conduct in its entirety, with reference, that is, to 

 what makes it conduct, its end, its real meaning. Ethics is the science of 

 conduct, understanding by conduct man's activity in its whole reach." — 

 ** Outlines of a Critical Theory of Ethics,," by John Dewey. 



"Men are prone to criticise themselves and others, and cannot help ad- 

 miring in various degrees some expressions of affection and will, and con- 

 demning others. These current judgments constitute a body of ethical 

 facts; and it is the aim of ethical science to strip from them their acci- 

 dental, impulsive, unreflecting character; to trace them to their ultimate 

 seat in the constitution of our nature and our world ; and to exhibit, not as 

 a concrete picture, but in its universal essence, the ideal of individual and 

 social perfection. To interpret, to vindicate, and systematize the moral 

 sentiments, constitutes the business of this department of thought." — 

 i* Types of Ethical Theory," by James Martineau. 



'* Wir miissen die Idee mitten in die mechanische Denkweise hineinstellen, 

 miissen in voller Anerkennung der mechanischen Welt dennoch den Ideal- 

 ismus unsrer Gesinnung betatigen. Wie dies geschehen konne? dies zu 

 zeigen ist Aufgabe der Ethik." — '' Allgemeine Ethik," by H. Steinthal. 



" Unsere Aufgabe ist keine geringerCj als in widerspruchloser Weise dar- 

 zuthun, dass der Monismus zu einem BegrifE der Sittlichkeit fiihrt, welcher 

 trotz dem Causalgesetz und dem unvermeidlich daraus erfolgenden Deter- 

 minismus von hohem Werth ist." — •' Grundlegung der Ethik," by 

 earner i. 



II. — Theories with Regard to the Ethical Ideal or the Highest 

 Good. 



** The end must consist in some form of self-realization, i. e., in some form 

 of the development of character— the end, in short, ought to be described 



