PHI LOS 0 P H Y . - Classic Works of Apologetics Online

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CHAPTER XII.
SLANDER.
SPEAKING is acting, both in philosophical
~trictne~s) and as to all moral purposes; for, if the
mischief- and motive of our conduct be the same,
the means which we use make no difference.
And this is in effect \\7hat our Saviour declares~
.1~fat/. xii. 37. "By thy words thou shalt bejustified~
and by thy words thou shalt be condemned':" by
thy words, as well, that is, as by thy acti0!lS; the
Olle shall be taken into the account as well as the
other, for they both possess the same property of vol.
untarily producing good or evil.
Slander may be distinguished into two kinds~
'llla/iciolIS slander, and ilzconriderate slander.
11!alicious slander, is the relating of either truth or
falsehood, for the purpose of creating misery.
I acknowledge that the truth or falsehood of what
is related varies the degree of guilt considerably;
and that slander, in. the .ordinaryacceptation of the
term, signifies the circulation of mischievous false ..
hoods: but trl\th may be made i~strurrJentaI to the
success of malidous designs as well as falsehood; and
if the end be \:'/ad, the means cannot be innocent.
I think the idea of slander ought to be confined
to the production of gratuitous mischief. When we
have an end or interest of our own to serve, if we
attempt to compass it by falsehood, it is fraud j if by
a publication of the truth, it is not without some ad ..
ditional circumstance of br.each of promise, betraying
of confidence, or the like, to be deemed criminal.
Sometimes the pain is intended for the person to
w hom we. ~re speaking;. at. other ti!fles. an enmity is
ro be grat ltied by the prejudIce or dIsqUIet of a third
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