ABSTRACT
There are two aspects under which the doctrine that others’ happiness is the true ethical aim presents itself. The “others” may be conceived personally, as individuals with whom they stand in direct relations; or they may be conceived impersonally, as constituting the community. On trying to understand precisely the statement that when taking general happiness as an end, the rule must be—“everybody to count for one, nobody for more than one,” there arises the idea of distribution. A perfectly moral law must be one which becomes perfectly practicable as human nature becomes perfect. If its practicableness decreases as human nature improves; and if an ideal human nature necessitates its impracticability; it cannot be the moral law sought. The compromise between egoism and altruism has been slowly establishing itself; and towards recognition of its propriety, men’s actual beliefs, as distinguished from their nominal beliefs, have been gradually approaching.
