JB_160_269.xml

Title: [1821 July 10 Codif '.9 Factitious]

Description: 1821 July 10

Codif

'.9 Factitious dignity

IV. Factitious Dignity

1. Association of ideas

1. Mediating instrument power of the association of ideas

2. irresistible force

3. Cause of the erroneous opinion of worth moral and intellectual

In the case of The last mentioned of these opinions - that by which preeminence in the scale of general worth and usefulness is ascribed to the dignitary - the irresistible force with which the cause operates in the production of the aggregate effect - in the production of a cluster of opinions, and amongst them in company with four which are true a fifth which is not true /has no truth in it/ is altogether curious; deplorable considering how mischievous it is.

The dignity has in every instance the dignity has for its immediate efficient cause, or rather productive instrument, some symbol perceptible to sense, to the sense of hearing at the least an appellation; most commonly in addition to it some symbol perceptible to the sense of sense of sight: an embroidered imitation of a star - a ribbon of a particular shape and colour - a medal.

Of this power of symbols or signs over opinions the cause lies in the association of ideas - in the principle of association between idea and idea.

JB_160_268.xml

Title: [1821 July 10 Codification Offer]

Description: 1821 July 10

Codification Offer

'.9 /Factitious Dignity [...?]/

2. Factitious mischievous

III. Factitious dignity

Factitious dignity is the factitious cause of factitious respect.

The respect of which it is productive has for its more remote cause a confused and indeterminate mass of opinions or conceptions - a mass of which, severally or in a greater or less number collectively, the following seem to be the ingredients.

1. Opinion of the existence of preeminent power on the part of the dignitary.

2. Opinion of the existence of preeminent opulence on the part of the dignitary.

3. Opinion of the dignitary's being in the habits of personal converse with other persons possessed of the same of equal and even inferior /superior/ dignities and thence or otherwise of equal end even superior masses of power and opulence.

4. Opinion of the dignitary's having a place in the esteem or affection or both, of the patron of the dignity - thence of his having a chance more or less considerable of obtaining for other persons those /such/ benefits as it is in the power of such patron to bestow.

5. Opinion of his being in a preeminent degree in possession of qualities extremely useful - of qualities such as while they afford him the power or means conferr on him the disposition to render his exertions /endeavour/faculties/ conducive to the greatest happiness of the greatest number. All but the last three opinions are in a degree more or less considerable sure to be well-founded. Only in the instance of the last is it ill founded, the opposite being the opinion that, as above, has truth on its side.

JB_160_267.xml

Title: [1821 July 10 Codification Offer]

Description: 1821 July 10

Codification Offer

'.9

2 Factitious mischievous

III. Factitious Dignity

In the case /situation/ of him by whom the dignity is conferred - in a word in the case of the Patron of the Dignity - it is in this case that its mischievousness is at the highest pitch. On the dignitary himself it conferrs, if not strictly speaking power at any rate the equivalent of power - a means of influencing will, the good enjoyment of which is independent on good behaviour, and which as shewn in the case of power and opulence in excess is thereby /as such/ affords encouragement and incitement to ill-behaviour exempting a man from the restraint and consequently the suffering attached in a greater or less degree to the exercise of official benevolence in its two opposite aspects positive and negative. On the Patron of the Dignity it conferrs in like manner actual power in possession the enjoyment of which is as above an encouragement to ill behaviour and thence not only as in the other case mischievous, but in a prodigiously higher degree: for in his power is included the sum of all the portions of power possessed by all the several dignitaries possessors of the dignity of which he is patron: and in that same proportion does it give encrease to /magnify/ the power and thence the inclination to pursue personal happiness at the expence of the greatest happiness of the greatest number.

Factitious Dignity is the factitious cause or productive instrument of factious respect.