GUIDE TO THE PHILOSOPHY 1938 - 1947.pdf - Rare Books at ...

A THEORY OF GOOD OR VALUE 455
The above are some of the reasons which lead me to
conclude that evjl is a real factor in the universe. I would
further suggest that it is the presence of evil which in some
unexplained way accounts for our failure to pursue the Good
which we sec, or to perform the duty which we recognize.
(a). THAT RIGHT ACTIONS ARE THOSE
WHICH PRODUCE "BEST CONSEQUENCES' 1
It remains to say something of the relation between
moral virtue and right action. First, with regard to the
meaning of the expression "right action", the utilitarians
are, I think, correct in holding that this must be sought
in the consequences of the action. A right action is,
in
to
fact, that one which of all those which it is open
the agent to do has the best possible consequences.
I have, however, suggested that the utilitarians were
wrong in assessing "best consequences" solely in terms
of quantity of pleasure. If there is any truth in the theory
of value outlined above, not pleasure only, but beauty,
truth and moral virtue are all valuable in themselves.
''Best consequences" will, therefore, be those that contain
the greatest amount of, or are most conducive to, the
promotion of happiness, beauty, truth and moral virtue.
While any consequences that include or promote the
manifestation of any of the four values are good, I do not
wish to suggest that the "best consequences" are those
that contain equal amounts of each of the values. The
extent to which the values should be mingled in the good
life, is a question upon which it is rash to venture a dogmatic
opinion. It may be the case that, as the Greeks
the best life is an all-round life in which all forms
thought,
of value are in some degree embodied and blended. It
may be that different men ought to pursue
these values
and embody them in their lives in different degrees, so
that one man will realize what the Greeks would have
called his proper end in the creation and appreciation of
beauty, another in the search for truth, another in the