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.