Hume natural and artificial virtues Essay

In this essay I will discuss the differences between Humes pictorial and sentimental equitys. I will first give Humes explanation of why in that respect is a need for a distinction or classification of fair plays, and the basis on which he makes the distinction, before describing the two categories and their criteria. I will look at the problems with Humes account of the distinction, particularly rightness. Finally I will describe how the non-homogeneous problems cast doubt on Humes distinction.Humes Virtues and the need to have it off In discussing the principles from which we determine moral entire or evil, virtue or vice, Hume argues that because the number of events we whitethorn wreak is infinite it would be absurd to imagine an original instinct or individual principle for each(prenominal) possibility. (T3. 1. 2. 6)1 Instead he suggests that, following the usual maxim of nature producing diversity from limited principles, we should look for more general principle s.Hume suggests looking for those general principles in nature but cautions on the ambiguous and various sands of the rallying cry essential. (T 3. 1. 2. 7) He says later that the word natural is of so loose a signification, that it seems vain to dispute, whether arbiter be natural or non (EPM Appx.3. 9. ) It is important that he clears this up early, the categorisation of several virtues, nonably justice, depends critically on a clear definition. Leaving natural open to interpretation would similarly raise difficulties in placing many of the 70 or more virtues he names. If the virtues could category hop it tycoon cause problems for the idea of having a distinction at all. Having raised this issue he resolves it by describing various intellects or contexts in which natural could be commonly mute1. Nature can be tacit as counter to, or opposed to, miracles and if understood in that context because everything, still miracles themselves but including virtue and vice, would be considered natural. (T3. 1. 2. 7) 1All quotes from David Hume be from An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals. ed. Beauchamp T. L. 1st ed. Oxford Oxford University Press, 1998 hereafter abbreviated EPM A Treatise of adult male Nature. ed. Norton, M. and Norton, D. 1st ed. Oxford Clarendon Press, 2011, hereafter abbreviated T 1 2. Nature may also be understood in opposition to rare and unusual. Hume notes that rare and unusual is imprecise and variable, dependent on observation. disrespect this vagueness Hume declares that if anything at all could be called natural in this context it would be the sentiments of morality and supports this with the observation that no nation or individual ever showed approbation or dislike of manners. This moral sense is so fundamental that only disease or madness could remove it. (T3. 1. 2. 8) Within this explanation Hume points prohibited that it is unphilosophical to conflate, as he suggests some systems do, virtue with natural and vice with unnatural. 3. The third natural context that Hume discusses is in opposition to artifice.In this context Hume says it is not altogether clear whether virtue is natural or artificial, this can only be discovered on closer inspection of particular vices or virtues. He raises two further distinctions, civil and moral, (T3. 1. 2. fn 70) which will be raised in the course of his disputation, but quite than closely define them suggests that the opposition will always discover the sense, which I take to mean that the correct interpretation of context will give you the type of natural under discussion.Hume concludes then that virtues are divided for the purposes of his argument into two distinct categories natural and artificial. Natural virtues Natural virtues are those which, according to Hume, transcend naturally in man, natural dispositions or instincts which could occur in pre-societal humans, in small family groups with no organised government self love, benevolence, charity , and many more, including some not usually mentioned wit, good manners, and dialog. These natural traits could be classified ad as those needed to cooperate within small, personal groups and which are necessarily good and agreeable. They are essential, a part of human nature. Artificial virtues 2.Artificial virtues are constructed by humans, they deal with extra familial, achromatic situations, those where natural virtues might be compromised by bonds of family or friendship. These virtues include justice (the main focus of Humes discussions of artificial virtues), fidelity, honesty and chastity. They are social conventions that dont necessarily result in good in each individual stage and in fact may result in nuisance on an individual basis. Problems with artificial virtues There seem to be some problems with artificial virtues. The idea that justice is artificial as argued by Hume in EPM 3.1. 2, seems flawed. Here he describes a world of abundance, where there is copious of e verything, where it is warm enough not to require clothes, where every individual is fully provided for. In this apt put in, claims Hume, every other social virtue would increase tenfold but the virtue of justice would neer have been dreamed of (EPM 3. 1. 3). I am not convinced by this argument, it shows only that justice may be unnecessary in the idyllic circumstances described, not that it would not or could not arise. It is not artificial simply because it is not present in a particular situation.Hume appears to weaken his own argument later in EPM and even questions his own previous claims. In the footnote (EPM Appx 3. 9 fn 64) Humes wrangle is not forceful or decisive, In the two former senses (unusual and miraculous), justice and property are undoubtedly natural. But as they suppose reason confederacy among men, perhaps that epithet cannot strictly, in the last sense (i. e. artificial) be applied to them. In EPM Appx 3. 9 Hume poses the question that if self love, benev olence, reason and forethought are natural then cannot the same be said of justice, order, fidelity, property, and society, virtues he has previously listed as artificial.Mens inclinations,, says Hume, their necessities tether them to combine. Even if we accept that in the happy state these necessities are minimal Hume still seems to be suggesting that men are inclined toward society and all that entails. He goes on to say in so sagacious an animal, what necessarily arises from the exertions of his intellectual faculties, may justly be esteemed natural. If that is the case then I see no reason why justice or society are fussy cases, and no reason why they would be judged differently to benevolence or self 3 love.They unquestioningly arise from our intellectual faculties and arguably arise necessarily, on Humes account they must surely be natural. A natural virtue must, according to Hume, occur naturally in man, be a natural disposition, and result in good. Given that man is inclin ed to combine, and that suppressing inclinations will result in pain sensation (ECHU 8. 1. 23) and conversely enabling that inclination will result in pleasure, and further that in a happy state justice is not impossible, only unnecessary, then it could be argued that justice is in fact a natural virtue.Even in the happy state it is not difficult to imagine a situation where two people may wish for the same thing, a particular unique view or time spent with a particular person. Walking to your favourite view to find it occupied a person may well decide, as the other person was there first, that the just thing to do would be to leave them to it. Justice, and other artificial virtues, has a further problem. Hume claims that the the virtue of an action depends on the motive, quite a than the action itself. Whether an action is judged virtuous is dependent on motive and that motive cannot be the virtue of the act itself. Being kind because it is virtuous to be kind is not virtuous.Acc ording to Hume, if I restore a great fortune to a miser or the seditious bigot then society suffers. When I repay the miser I am acting out of duty or obligation, I do what I do, not finished a virtuous motive but because it is the right thing to do. If that is the case then it seems that justice may not be a virtue at all. Conclusion In describing the differences between natural and artificial virtues it becomes apparent that the distinction is not always clear.I have described how Hume explains the need to distinguish types of virtue and the criteria he uses. I have looked at the problems with Humes account in relation to the artificial virtues and naturalised that, at least in the case of justice, they do not sit comfortably in a category separate from the natural virtues. The problem of the circularity may not only cause a problem with the distinction but may even suggest that justice is not a virtue at all. While this does not conclusively establish that the distinction does not stand it does show that it is not as firmly founded as Hume might claim.