There has been a dispute in philosophy for centuries, over morals and what drives human beings to act upon them. David Hume’s, An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals, discuses his ideas of how reasoning and sentiment play their role in mankind’s motivation. Though he agrees both sides have extremely sound arguments, Hume believes one has a larger influence over the other. He does this by analyzing mental qualities; also know as personal merit, discussing the importance of benevolence, utility, and justice. Through this, Hume is able to argue his philosophy of moral theory.
After Hume disregards the opponents who refute the existence of moral distinction, he goes to the big question. Is it reason, or is it sentiment that drives man to act as he does? Do we discover morals though learning and observation, or are we born with innate …show more content…
“The public utility is the sole origin of justice, and that reflection in the beneficial consequences of this virtue are the sole foundation of its merit…”(Hume 6). Justice cannot exist in either extreme of abundance or scarcity. In the world of unlimited resources there is no need for justice. Everyone has everything they could ever need or want and intern justice would have never needed to be created in the first place. In the world of scarcity however, justice is suspended, as it is every man for himself. There is no moral reasoning involved, not even for the benevolent man, (Hume 8). “By rendering justice totally useless, you thereby totally destroy its essence, and suspend its obligation upon mankind.”(Hume 8). The common society is in between these two extremes. Humans are extremely bias for self, and friends, and since they all must work for their resources justice becomes necessary in a civil society. When property comes into play, so does justice. This facilitates our moral obligation to follow the laws of
After Hume disregards the opponents who refute the existence of moral distinction, he goes to the big question. Is it reason, or is it sentiment that drives man to act as he does? Do we discover morals though learning and observation, or are we born with innate …show more content…
“The public utility is the sole origin of justice, and that reflection in the beneficial consequences of this virtue are the sole foundation of its merit…”(Hume 6). Justice cannot exist in either extreme of abundance or scarcity. In the world of unlimited resources there is no need for justice. Everyone has everything they could ever need or want and intern justice would have never needed to be created in the first place. In the world of scarcity however, justice is suspended, as it is every man for himself. There is no moral reasoning involved, not even for the benevolent man, (Hume 8). “By rendering justice totally useless, you thereby totally destroy its essence, and suspend its obligation upon mankind.”(Hume 8). The common society is in between these two extremes. Humans are extremely bias for self, and friends, and since they all must work for their resources justice becomes necessary in a civil society. When property comes into play, so does justice. This facilitates our moral obligation to follow the laws of