The Principles of Moral and Political Philosophy

by Paley, William

• ISBN13: 9780865973817
• ISBN10: 0865973814
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2002-12-01
• Publisher: Liberty Fund

Summary

This classic work by William Paley was one of the most popular books in England and America in the early nineteenth century. Its significance lies in the fact that it marks an important point at which eighteenth century "whiggism" began to be transformed into nineteenth century "liberalism."

Table of Contents

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