date

1821. May 10. 1822 Aug 9. In regard
1821. May 10. 1822 Aug 9.

In regard to fiction two sources and of use and

of service require to be noted. One is, the extent of the

sinister service rendered: the other is, by the extent of

the class of persons to whom the service is rendered.

2. In respect of the

extent of the service rendered, the use of fiction may be

distinguished into general and particular .

By

particular use understand the particular benefit, which on

the occasion of such fiction,

results to the class or classes of persons

functionaries served by it; by the general use, the benefit

which accrues to all of them in the aggregate from the general

principle of demoralization, which it contributes to

establish: viz that

in regard to human actions in general, right & wrong,

proper ground for approbation and disapprobation depends — not on

the influence of the action or the greatest happiness of the greatest

number, but on the practice, consequently on the will, & thence or the

interest, real or supposed, of the aggregate of those same particular

classes. Of the establishment of this principle of demoralization, the

object and the effect is the causing men to behold, not merely with

indifference, but even with approbation — in the first place, the

perpetration of injustice, and in a word of political evil in all its

shapes; and, in the next place, the employing as an instrument in the

commission of such mischief falsehood — wilful deliberate and

self-conscious falsehood — in a word mendacity: the practicing on this occasion and for this purpose

that vice which when by individuals not armed with power it is employed to

purposes much less extensively mischievous is by these same men habitually

and to a vast extent visited with the severest punishment. Now go to

p.3.
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  • Title: [[xxxvi. 183] 1821 May 19 1822 Aug]
    Description: [xxxvi. 183]

    1821 May 19 1822 Aug. 9

    Constitut Cod

    First Lines

    Surplus

    Ch [...?...?]

    3. [...?]

    In regard to fiction two sources of use or /and/ service require to be noted. One is, the extent of the sinister service rendered: the other is, the extent of the class of persons to whom the service is rendered.

    1. In respect of the nature /extent/ of the service rendered, the use of fiction may be distinguished into general and particular.

    The /By/ particular use understand the particular benefit, which on the occasion of such fiction, accrues /results/ to the class or classes of persons /functionaries/ served by it: by the general use, the benefit which accrues to all of them in the aggregate from the general principle of demoralization, which it contributes to establish: viz that to /in/ regard to human actions in general, right ans wrong, proper ground for approbation and disapprobation, depends - not on the influence of the action on the greatest happiness of the greatest number, but on the practice, consequently on the will, and thence on the interest, real or supposed, of the aggregate of those same particular classes. Of the establishment of this principle of demoralization, the object and the effect is - the causing men to behold, not merely with indifference, but even with approbation - in the first place, the perpetration of injustice, and in a word of political evil in all its shapes; and, in the next place, the employing as an instrument in the commission of such mischief falshood - wilful deliberate and self-conscious falshood - in a word mendacity: the practising on this occasion and for this purpse that vice which when by individuals not armed with power it is employed to purposes much less extensively mischievous is by these same men habitually and to a vast extent visited with the severest punishment.

    Now go to p.3.
  • Title: [1822 Aug. 9 Constitut. Code.]
    Description: 1822 Aug. 9

    Constitut. Code.

    1.

    Fiction, what. Falsehood acknowledged, from and acted on as true.

    2.

    Properties of falsehood in this form 1. Never employed but to a bad thence in unjustifiable purpose. No man employs falsehood when truth will serve. 2. Capable of being employed to every bad purpose. 3. Never, but with bad effect. 4. Evidence conclusive of the mischievousness of the exercise of power supported by it. 5. So of the the inaptitude of the form of government. 6. So of moral depravity in the inventory. 7. So in the constituted employers. 8. So of intellectual weakness in the acquiescing nation.

    3.

    Inventors and employers — lawyers, viz. 1. Judges 2. Law writers.

    4.

    Persons to whose sinister interest sinister service has been rendered by it. 1. The inventors. 2. The monarch, whose removable creatures they were.

    5.

    The sinister service is 1. Particular; enabling the inventor in each instance to operate the injustice, of which it was made the instrument.

    6.

    2. General: contributory to encrease in the people the intellectual weakness, on which their obsequiousness to it depends. 2. Their demoralization, by causing them to attribute to their rulers the power of converting vice into virtue; and thus to entertain a propensity to the practice of it.
  • Title: [23 July 1810 23 Fallacies Ch | |]
    Description: 23 July 1810 23

    Fallacies Ch | | Cause and Obstacle

    | | Universities 1. Virtue

    A A Virtue Universities

    Others in the character /situation/ of Judges punishing falsehood in its several forms and various applications where any thing is to be got or nothing is to be lost by punishing it, rewarding it where any thing is to be got by rewarding it, enforcing it by punishment annexed to the non-commission of it where any thing is to be got by thus enforcing it, and even practicing it /practicing it without measure and without shame/ where money or power the source of money is to be got by practicing it.

    Note

    (a)

    (a) See Scotch Reform Lett. 1. title [...?] Mendacity-licence. and see even Balckstone Commentaries on the scanty accounts he gives /few and loose hints he gives/ of fiction and the use made of it for the purpose of gaining power on which he is tolerable explicit not to speak of money on the subject of which he maintains a decent and prudent silence.