Ihavetermedthisevolutionofthefeelingsoutofwhichtheprimitivebondsofhumansocietyaresolargelyforged, intotheorganizedandpersonifiedsympathywecallconscience, theethicalprocess.[1]Sofarasittendstomakeanyhumansocietymoreefficientinthestruggleforexistencewiththestateofnature, orwithothersocieties, , sincelawandmoralsarerestraintsuponthestruggleforexistencebetweenmeninsociety, theethicalprocessisinoppositiontotheprincipleofthecosmicprocess, andtendstothesuppressionofthequalitiesbestfittedforsuccessinthatstruggle[2]
Itisfurthertobeobservedthat, justastheself-assertion, necessarytothemaintenanceofsocietyagainstthestateofnature, willdestroythatsocietyifitisallowedfreeoperationwithin; sotheself-restraint,theessenceoftheethicalprocess, whichisnolessanessentialconditionoftheexistenceofeverypolity,may, byexcess, becomeruinoustoit.
Moralistsofallagesandofallfaiths, attendingonlytotherelationsofmentowardsoneanotherinanidealsociety, haveagreeduponthe "goldenrule,""Doasyouwouldbedoneby." Inotherwords, letsympathybeyourguide; putyourselfintheplaceofthemantowardswhomyouractionisdirected;;howeverconfidentonemaybethataveragemenmaybethoroughlydependeduponnottocarryitouttoitsfulllogicalconsequences; itisneverthelessdesirabletorecognisethefactthattheseconsequencesareincompatiblewiththeexistenceofacivilstate, underanycircumstancesofthisworldwhichhaveobtained,or, sofarasonecansee, are, likelytocometopass.
, IfindthatIampossessedbyanexceedingdesirenottobefinedorimprisoned; ifinthatofthemanwhohassmittenmeononecheek, , the"goldenrule" involvesthenegationoflawbytherefusaltoputitinmotionagainstlaw-breakers; and,asregardstheexternalrelationsofapolity, , evenpartially, , thefollowersofthe "goldenrule" mayindulgeinhopesofheaven, buttheymustreckonwiththecertaintythatotherpeoplewillbemastersoftheearth.
Whatwouldbecomeofthegardenifthegardenertreatedalltheweedsandslugs, andbirdsandtrespassersashewouldliketobetreated, ifhewereintheirplace?
[1] Workedout, initsessentialfeatures, chieflybyHartleyandAdamSmith, , p.45.
[2] Seetheessay 'OntheStruggleforExistenceinHumanSociety' below; andCollectedEssays, vol.i.p.276, forKant'srecognitionofthesefacts.
