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14 Jan y 1817
Necessity Cat
1 Theory
§ 4. Probity how securable
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§ 4. Probity how securable?
Q 1 - Recapitulation - < > question - By what arrangements < > of the form of government can appropriate probity on the part of the supreme rulers be most effectually secured -
A. Short answer: such by means of which each such ruler shall find it his interest to entertain the destrosetion[?] in question, and constantly to act up to it -
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Q 2: i e. that in the current phrases it shou’d be his interest should in each coincide with his duty -
A - Yes -
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Q.3. But under every form of government are the instances of every possessor of supreme power does not interest coincide with duty? - i.e the line of conduct presented by interest coincide with d o. prescribed by duty? Exists there that office bearer who possesses not a share in the universal interest? as great a share as any other can possess? -
A. No. But in addition to that fractional interest every member of the community rulers included has an integral interest, viz. a purely personal interest which being distinct from his share in the universal interest is liable to be opposite to it
A - Yes -
§. 4 Probity how securable
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Q 4 - This 1 undurable it therefore is that he should never deviate, will any such sinister cource. But then he will not deviate, unless and in so far as his such his private compared with public interest is the strongest: will he? -
A. No - but mostly so it will be. The seperate interest is an integer: his share in the universal interest is but a < > fraction, as one to a number of millions. This sinister interest of his acts in the most < > his public in a highly diluted state
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Ans. In this respect, with no other difference than what depends on the number of the portions, this public is on the footing of a private partnership. Bating the tutelary force of the interest < > political or legal, the /by the/ popular or moral, and the religious sanctions, if by a conduct by which the value of his share as the partnership would be diminished one hundred pound a partner can gain two hundred so he will do -
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Q 5 - You mean that conduct will be determined by the stronger interest viz - when thereby general happiness will not only not be encreased but diminished.
A. Yes - that in the < > of the powers of government < > to be the supposition acted upon say, as there may be so each had several interests by the stronger body of interest -
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Q 7 - Teach you then that for example on every occasion in which by sacrificing one pound, a man may gain two he will make the sacrifice?
A - Not exactly so: only for the sale if the explanation said so: if these were really so, no imprudence; nothing but consummate prudence.
What I meant was -
I. On each occasion man’s conduct is determined by what in his own conception of the matter is at the < > most conducive to the aggregate interest corresponding to the < > quantity of happiness expected to be enjoyed by him during life:
2. that for the purpose in question that conception ought to be taken for correct
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Q. 8. What always notwithstanding the known abundances of of imprudences? -
A. Yes - individuals persons not known nothing known but the general comprehension of names nature[?], and the particular situation of the sort it man in question, such the supposition on what we are induced to act This ground is not a fallacious as it may be seen. Per Adam < >. Bankruptcies are comparatively rare: and of Bankruptcies only a part are produced either by improbity or imprudence. - By the very notice taken of imprudences their rarity is evidenced: only by what is rare is nature attracted.
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Title: [13 Jan y 1817 Necessity Cat]Description: 13 Jan y 1817 Necessity Cat 1 Theory §.4. Probity how securable 4 Q. 4. True: and that he should on any occasion deviate into any such sinister course, is consequently in the eyes of every one by whom the end in question is regarded as the sole proper end, altogether undesirable. But into this /any /no/ such/ sinister course he will never /will he ever/ deviate, unless where and in so far as, compared with his share in the universal interest, this self-regarding this personal and this separate and this sinister {his} interest is the strongest: - think you that he will? A. No: but unfortunately on many not to say most occasions such will be the case. The separate interest it is all his own, the universal interest he has millions upon millions of individuals /human beings/ to share with him in: the more concentrated will always overpower /overbear/ and predominate over the more diluted interest. His own personal interest is interest in its most di[?] concentrated state: the universal interest in what is here the object then comes in competition with his own individual personal interest his share in the universal interest - is interest in its most diluted state. The case of this sort of public partnership is exactly, with no other difference than that which is constituted by /consists in/ the difference in numbers, exactly the same case as that of a private partnership. If by any line of conduct by which his share in the partnership concern /estate/ would sustain a loss to the amount of one hundred pound his separate estate would obtain a profit to the amount of two hundred pound, here you see is a manifest opposition between self-regarding interest and that branch of social duty between his personal interest and his share in the common interest - here is at any rate a temptation to sacrifice to interest that branch of social duty - here is a sinister interest which as between pecuniary interest on the one part and pecuniary interest on the other part is the more concentrated interest the stronger interest, and that by which as such setting aside any such tutelary interests, legal moral and religious as may happen to operate in his bosom with more or less force, can not but be the prevalent one, and that in such sort as that the line of his conduct shall be determined by it.
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Title: [13 Jan y 1817 Necessity Cat]Description: 13 Jan y 1817 Necessity Cat 1 Theory §.4. Probity how securable 3 Q. 3. You mean in other words /the word which one finds in the current phrases/ that in the instance of each of them it shall be his interest to do his duty or his interest shall coincide with his duty. A. Yes: take these phrases, either or both of them as you please. Q. 4. Good: but under every form of government does not every man’s interest /the interest of every member/ coincide with his duty: or to speak more fully and clearly in the instance of every member of the governing body every possessor of the supreme power or a portion of it does not the line of conduct prescribed /pointed/ to him by his interest coincide with the line of conduct prescribed to him by his official duty? Exists there any such official person /office-bearer/ who possesses not a share in the universal interest - a share as great as any that can be possessed by any other member of the community? If not, where are the elements of which in any state the universal interest is composed? A. Yes doubtless: but then over and above /in addition/ to this /such/ his share the social, the universal the social interest, every man /the public/ has a self-regarding a personal a private interest of his own, which is distinct and separate and distinct from that universal interest, and that /since[?]/ his share in the universal interest, that it is liable continually liable to be adverse and opposite and adverse with relation, and so effectually and practically opposite, as to lead /engage/ him to /to prescribe to him and engage him to/ act in a course diametrically opposite to that which is or would be prescribed to him by his duty - i.e. by his share in the universal interest: a course which taking for his proper course that which is prescribed to him by his duty, and which he is […?] to act in by his share in the universal interest, may well be termed a sinister one /course/: and the interest which noses[?] him on in it, a sinister interest.
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Title: [14 Jan y 1817 Necessity Cat]Description: 14 Jan y 1817 Necessity Cat 1 Theory §.4. Probity how securable 6 Q. And is it then your belief /persuasion/ that on every occasion the conduct of every man will be determined by the stronger interest: for example that on every occasion on which by sacrificing one pound he would gain two he will accordingly make the sacrifice. A. No: nor do you really mean to ascribe to any such notion: it is only for the sake of bringing out a little necessary explanation that you start it you put the question to me. If this were really the case, no such thing /quality/ as imprudence would there be in the world: of every man on every occasion his conduct would be conformable to the dictates of the most consummate prudence. On this kind what I mean to say is this: viz. /1 in the first place/ that on each occasion man’s conduct will be determined by that which in his own view of the matter at the moment is the stronger body of interest: the interest /aggregate/ corresponding to the aggregate stock /mass/ of the whole stock of his happiness expected to be enjoyed by him during life: and in the next place, that on the occasion of a /any/ judgment to be passed concerning what in the situation in question a man will do, his own conception in regard to which is the stronger interest ought to be taken for correct. Q. What? to be conformable to the dictates of consummate prudence? and this notwithstanding the lamentable stock of imprudences the existence of which is so generally recognized and in truth so incontestable? A. O yes: so it must be: individuals being known and considering that for the formation of our judgments on a subject of this kind the nature of the case affords us no ground whatever, other than what is composed of the known constitution of man’s nature in whatsoever situation placed, added to the particular nature of the particular situation in question, such is the supposition on which we are reduced to act.
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