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PRESENT OPINIONS IN ETHICAL SCIENCE, AND
AN EXPOSITION OF OUR OWN POLITICAL

INSTITUTIONS.

THE WHOLE


CAREFULLY ADAPTED TO SCHOOLS OF BOTH SEXES,

AND ACCOMPANIED WITH

QUESTIONS FOR EXAMINATION.

BY RICHARD W. GREEN,

AUTHOR OF INDUCTIVE EXERCISES IN ENGLISH GRAMMAR.

PHILADELPHIA:

URIAH HUNT, No. 101 MARKET STREET,

AND FOR SALE BY THE PRINCIPAL BOOKSELLERS THROUGHOUT THE

UNITED STATES.

"THE only work upon moral philosophy which has extensive circulation, and which is level to the comprehension of common readers, is the Moral Philosophy of Dr. Paley. This work, like all others of the same author, is remarkable for its clearness, and the apposite and natural manner in which it illustrates principles. But it cannot be recommended without a warning to the reader to beware of being misled by the principle upon which, as a foundation, the system of Dr. Paley is built. This is the principle of expediency. Dr. Paley says, ' whatever is expedient is right.' But, then, it must be expedient on the whole, at the long run, in all its effects, collateral and remote, as well as in those which are immediate and direct.' Now, this is undoubtedly true, to a being capable of estimating all effects, direct and indirect, collateral and remote, through all time, and upon all beings, and to such a one alone. No person can safely act upon this principle, in questions of right and wrong, but one who can take into view the boundless future. Now, it need not be proved that none but God has this perfect foreknowledge; no one else can, therefore, safely act upon the principle of expediency.

"With this exception and one or two others, the morality of Dr. Paley is the morality of the Gospel; and he constantly enforces his principles by quotations from thence, and has been guided throughout by light borrowed from the Gospel."

:::

Emerson's Appendix to Sullivan's Political Class-Book.

::

ENTERED according to the Act of Congress, in the year 1835, by

Uriah Hunt,

in the Office of the Clerk of the District Court of the Eastern District of

Pennsylvania,

STEREOTYPED BY L. JOHNSON.

gift
Tappan Prest, Ans

1-11-1932

5

PREFACE OF THE AMERICAN EDITOR.

PALEY'S Moral Philosophy is a standard book. It is found in every gentleman's library, and is made use of as a text-book in many of our schools and colleges. It is a treatise above all others, the best adapted to general use; both on account of its clearness of method and aptness of illustration, and also because it contains a code of ethics, more universal in its application than any other. In the language of an English reviewer, “It is a masterly and inimitable work. He had many points of resemblance to Socrates: the philosophy of both was common sense, and their study human nature."

But it has undoubtedly its defects; and such defects as youth should be apprised of when they sit down to store their minds with its contents. The present editor has long regretted that so much error should accompany so good a book; and has wished to see an edition of it published for schools without the objectionable matter.

With these views, he gladly availed himself of the opportunity that seemed to be offered by the publication in London of a condensed edition by A. J. Valpy, M. A.; stating in its advertisement, that the original work was condensed into about one half its bulk, "where not only are all the arguments of Paley preserved in their native force, but even his very words, as often as they seem to convey his ideas in the best, because most concise manner." Having casually met with this work, he conceived the idea that to this compressed edition there might be added critical notes exposing the errors of Dr.

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