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“ THE PRINCIPLES OF ETHICS.” 
Beneficence. Worthy and unworthy are entitled to the former—the 
worthy only to the latter. The end, as regards beneficence, has been 
reached by Empiricism apart from a scientific system of Ethics. 
It is formulated in the proverbs—“God helps them who help 
themselves,” “ Fortune favours the brave,” and such like. 
Again let it be emphasised that Justice is a State function, and 
Beneficence a purely voluntary action. 
Quoting the words of the poet in relation to beneficence, 
“ Blessing him that gives and him that takes,” in justification of 
the voluntary principle, having “ a due regard for social stability, 
social prosperity, and social health ”—before describing the two 
kinds of beneficence—Mr. Spencer sums up the results arising from 
the pursuance of the voluntary principle that : “ At the same time 
there is a corresponding difference between the effects produced on 
the beneficiaries. Kindly acts, spontaneously done, usually excite 
in them emotions of gratitude and attachment; and a community 
containing beneficiaries thus related to benefactors is one in which 
not only are the feelings of the lower favourably exercised as well 
as those of the higher, but one in which there is thereby produced 
an increased coherence and stability.” 
We now come to the two sub-divisions of beneficence. 
The first species of beneficent conduct is defined by Mr. Spencer 
as “ that which is characterised by passivity in deed or in word, at 
times when egoistic advantage or pleasure might be gained by 
action.” He points out that there “ are many forms of 
self-restraint, not commonly regarded as ethically enjoined, 
which nevertheless ought to be so regarded.” These come under 
the title of Negative Beneficence. 
The second species are “those kinds of actions alone recognised 
in the ordinary conception of beneficence,” but which Mr. Spencer 
distinguishes as Positive Beneficence. 
Under the latter head are comprised “ all actions i m plying 
sacrifice of something that others may be benefited—of strength or 
of product of efforts. It implies a personal loss of present pleasure 
—though there may be an immediate or prospective compensation 
in sympathetic pleasure.” 
October, 1893. 
