ABSTRACT
The two basic moral principles proposed in chapter VI were those of keeping trust and benevolence, though it was pointed out that they were not completely independent. For example, the question ‘Ought we to help others in distress?’ is an appeal perhaps to duty rather than to kindness. Are there not, then, occasions when we have a duty to be benevolent? We must also recognise that, though there can be sensible debate as to whether we ever have a moral obligation to be benevolent as well as sensible debate on obligations in particular circumstances, there is no doubt that we have a general duty not to be malevolent. (We shall be considering this negative aspect of benevolence later in the chapter, in our discussion of the moral issues involved in the treatment of animals.) Thus it could be argued that there is only one fundamental and ultimate principle-keeping trust-and that benevolence should be regarded as the negative of malevolence so that it could be treated as part of the duty. However, although the distinction between keeping trust (duty and obligation) and benevolence cannot be clear-cut, there are so many examples of actions that merit praise because they transcend what is normally taken as duty that it is probably more helpful to consider benevolence as a separate moral principle. To be benevolent is to show an active concern for the interests of others, more than is required or even expected by one’s fellows. We can show benevolence to people to whom we have no obligations and to creatures who do not have rights.
