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WISCONSIN ACADEMY SCIENCES, ARTS, AND LETTERS. 



piness of the greatest number," and who, if we may trust the Deon- 

 tolofyy so far, even declared that " A man can no more cast off re- 

 gard to his own happiness, meaning the happiness of the moment, 

 than he can cast off his own sliin." 



The progress of psychology is rapidl\'- destroying the arguments 

 on which these egotists rested, and showing that the real repre- 

 sentatiyes of Utilitarianism are those who, like Bain, Mill, Spencer 

 and others of its most recent advocates, plant themselves on disin- 

 terested social sympathy so firmly, and teach regard to universal 

 happiness so plainly, that they deserve no worse epithet than that 

 of humanitarian or philanthropic. Their position is so little un- 

 derstood, that a few characteiistic passages must here be quoted 

 from the little book, called "Utilitarianism," by John Stuart Mill, 

 published in 1863, and since reprinted among the Dissertations and 

 Discussions. 



" This it is, which, when once the general happiness is recogniz- 

 ed as the ethical standard, will constitute the strength ot the utili- 

 tarian morality. This firm foundation is that of the social feelings 

 of mankind, the desire to be in unity with oar fellow creatures, 

 &c., (p. 45). 



" Few but those whose mind is a moral blank, could bear to lay 

 out their course of life on the plan of paying no regard to others 

 except so far as their own private interests compels " (Do. end ch. 

 iii., p. 50.) " The utilitarian standard is not the agent's own great- 

 est happiness, but the greatest amount of happiness altogether " 

 (Do. p. 16). The happiness Vv^hich forms the utilitarian standard 

 of what is right in conduct, is not the agent's own happiness, but 

 that of all concerned. As between his own happiness and that of 

 others, utilitarianism requires him to be as strictly impartial as a 

 disinterested and benevolent specator. In the golden rule of Jesus 

 of Nazareth, we read the complete spirit of the ethics of utility," 

 (p. 24). " Utilitarianism could only attain its end by the general 

 cultivation of nobleness of character " (p. 16). " It maintains not 

 onl3^ that virtue is to be desired, but that it is to be desired disin- 

 terestedly, for itself" (p" 53). " Readiness to serve the happiness of 

 others by the absolute sacrifice of his own, is the highest virtue 

 which can be found in man " (p. 23). " Virtue in those who love 

 t disinterestedlv is desired and cherished, not as a means to happi- 



