date

1819 Dec r 5 §.4 Bentham’s Radical
1819 Dec r 5 §.4

Bentham’s Radical

Prelim

II. Necessity

2

This is the case in particular in regard to politics. On that field whatsoever were the question that happen to be brought forward of whatsoever importance right […?] would be /is/ with reference to their own interests, if they were supposed to hear what could be said on both sides, they would be sure to decide wrong, and if their own destruction were to be the consequence of wrong decision, to rush headlong into destruction accordingly.

On the part of the ruling ones To save them from such self-destruction it might be sufficient (some would suppose) to take care on every occasion /question/ that an ample supply of arguments on the right side of the question should be present to their view - Alas! vain would be any /every/ such hope: so sure as in favour of on the wrong side any argument how weak soever were present to their view so sure would they /their minds/ be to be poisoned and deluded by that weak argument so sure would they be to throw themselves with /to run with/ violence into that wrong side.

So in regard to religion  Continue this, if advisable on another sheet
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