13 Jan 1817

Necessity Cat

1 Theory

§.4. Probity how securable

1

§. Appropriate official probity - how […?] effectually to securable possession of it on the part /in the breast/ of Office bearing in official hands.

Q. 1. Let us go back a little and report progress /and see what we have done/. 1 The leading question was what in a political state or community is the proper end of government: the short answer was maximization of the happiness of all its members. This was a theorem. 2 The next was a problem. By what means secure the accomplishment of that end /object/. A short answer to the question, short answer to the problem by the maximization of appropriate official aptitude on the part of such of its members as have the supreme power in their hands. 3. {The} third question {was} In what are /endowments shall/ the elements of his aptitude be found. Short answer appropriate probity, appropriate intellectual aptitude, appropriate active talent. 4. 5. 6. Three next questions what are we respectively to understand by the three endowments thus expressed: to each of them an answer has been found. But of the inquiry there carried on what is the practical object? It is to determine among all the several forms of government actual and conceivable what is the best i.e. what in its nature the most highly conducive to that end, and for the solution of that question the principal modifications of which the powers of government have appeared /presented themselves as being/ susceptible have necessarily passed under review. A conception of the /these/ several elements of appropriate official aptitude being thus obtained, now come so many problems, by means of the form of government how most effectually to secure for the benefit of all the Members on the part of the ruling members the possession of these several endowments? and the first upon the list is that of appropriate probity.