The Principles of Moral and Political Philosophy

Contents

Contents Foreword by D. L. Le Mahieu xi Select Bibliography xxix Letter to the Bishop of Carlisle by William Paley xxxi Preface xxxv BOOK I Preliminary Considerations 1. Definition and Use of the Science 1 2. The Law of Honour 1 3. The Law of the Land 2 4. The Scriptures 3 5. The Moral Sense 6 6. Human Happiness 12 7. Virtue 25 BOOK II Moral Obligation 1. The Question, Why Am I Obliged to Keep My Word? Considered 33 2. What We Mean, When We Say a Man Is Obliged to Do a Thing 34 3. The Question, Why Am I Obliged to Keep My Word? Resumed 35 4. The Will of God 37 5. The Divine Benevolence 39 6. Utility 42 7. The Necessity of General Rules 44 8. The Consideration of General Consequences Pursued 46 9. Of Right 49 10. The Division of Rights 51 11. The General Rights of Mankind 56 BOOK III Relative Duties Part I Of Relative Duties Which Are Determinate 1. Of Property 63 2. The Use of the Institution of Property 64 3. The History of Property 66 4. In What the Right of Property Is Founded 68 5. Promises 73 6. Contracts 84 7. Contracts of Sale 85 8. Contracts of Hazard 88 9. Contracts of Lending of Inconsumable Property 90 10. Contracts Concerning the Lending of Money 92 11. Contracts of Labour—Service 97 12. Contracts of Labour—Commissions 100 13. Contracts of Labour—Partnership 103 14. Contracts of Labour— Offices 104 15. Lies 107 16. Oaths 110 17. Oath in Evidence 116 18. Oath of Allegiance 118 vi contents 19. Oaths Against Bribery in the Election of Members of Parliament 121 20. Oath Against Simony 121 21. Oaths to Observe Local Statutes 124 22. Subscription to Articles of Religion 125 23. Wills 127 Part II Of Relative Duties Which Are Indeterminate, and of the Crimes Opposite to These 1. Charity 133 2. Charity—The Treatment of Our Domestics and Dependants 134 3. Slavery 135 4. Charity—Professional Assistance 138 5. Charity—Pecuniary Bounty 140 6. Resentment 149 7. Anger 150 8. Revenge 152 9. Duelling 156 10. Litigation 158 11. Gratitude 162 12. Slander 163 Part III Of Relative Duties Which Result from the Constitution of the Sexes, and of the Crimes Opposed to These 1. Of the Public Use of Marriage Institutions 167 2. Fornication 168 3. Seduction 174 contents vii 4. Adultery 176 5. Incest 180 6. Polygamy 182 7. Divorce 186 8. Marriage 193 9. Of the Duty of Parents 196 10. The Rights of Parents 210 11. The Duty of Children 212 BOOK IV Duties to Ourselves 1. The Rights of Self-Defence 217 2. Drunkenness 219 3. Suicide 225 BOOK V Duties Towards God 1. Division of These Duties 233 2. Of the Duty and of the Efficacy of Prayer, so far as the Same Appear from the Light of Nature 234 3. Of the Duty and Efficacy of Prayer, as Represented in Scripture 240 4. Of Private Prayer, Family Prayer, and Public Worship 243 5. Of Forms of Prayer in Public Worship 249 6. Of the Use of Sabbatical Institutions 255 7. Of the Scripture Account of Sabbatical Institutions 257 8. By What Acts and Omissions the Duty of the Christian Sabbath Is Violated 269 9. Of Reverencing the Deity 271 viii contents BOOK VI Elements of Political Knowledge 1. Of the Origin of Civil Government 281 2. How Subjection to Civil Government Is Maintained 285 3. The Duty of Submission to Civil Government Explained 291 4. Of the Duty of Civil Obedience, as Stated in the Christian Scriptures 304 5. Of Civil Liberty 311 6. Of Different Forms of Government 316 7. Of the British Constitution 326 8. Of the Administration of Justice 351 9. Of Crimes and Punishments 373 10. Of Religious Establishments and of Toleration 394 11. Of Population and Provision; and of Agriculture and Commerce, as Subservient Thereto 419 12. Of War and Military Establishments 456 Index 473 contents ix ...