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The Descent of Man

The Descent of Man

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happiness, praise or blame is bestowed on actions<br />

and motives, according as they lead to<br />

this end; and as happiness is an essential part<br />

<strong>of</strong> the general good, the greatest-happinesss<br />

principle indirectly serves as a nearly safe standard<br />

<strong>of</strong> right and wrong. As the reasoning powers<br />

advance and experience is gained, the<br />

remoter effects <strong>of</strong> certain lines <strong>of</strong> conduct on<br />

the character <strong>of</strong> the individual, and on the general<br />

good, are perceived; and then the selfregarding<br />

virtues come within the scope <strong>of</strong> public<br />

opinion, and receive praise, and their opposites<br />

blame. But with the less civilised nations<br />

reason <strong>of</strong>ten errs, and many bad customs<br />

and base superstitions come within the same<br />

scope, and are then esteemed as high virtues,<br />

and their breach as heavy crimes.<br />

<strong>The</strong> moral faculties are generally and justly<br />

esteemed as <strong>of</strong> higher value than the intellectual<br />

powers. But we should bear in mind that<br />

the activity <strong>of</strong> the mind in vividly recalling past

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