1819 Decr 3 §.6

Bentham’s Radical §.6

Reform Necessary

§.6 Means employed for supporting the delusion

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He who manifests respect to factitious dignity is necessary to all the mischief done by means of it.

Factitious Dignity - Of all the instruments of misrule one of the most mischievous is that by which the opinion[?] of most[?] is attached to factitious dignity is the most degrading to the minds on which by many of these instruments the delusion on which that action depends have been propagated with success.

Suppose no such instruments no such deceptious evidence[?] to have place, opinion causing most and machines[?] serves will have nothing to direct and form it but reality of such reason[?]. Every man would be judged according[?] to his works.

When on[?] a man has no chance for obtaining respect for other cause than that of his good behaviour it is his interest to behave well: the quantity of respect he receives will be greater and greater the greater the degree to which he has behaved well: in case of extra service rendered to the public at large, the greater the value of that service.

When tokens of respect is received by a man for other cause than that of good behaviour, the greater the quantity of respect due to the receiver, the greater the interest he has in not behaving well. Be his situation in life what it may, good behaviour can not be maintained without the making of some sacrifices: of sacrifices of personal interest in other shapes to a man’s interest in respect /on the score/ of reputation. But if good be it in what shape it may, without the sacrifice which a man can obtain good in any other shape, he will not make sacrifice.