Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1885-02-10
Natural Ethics,

The North american RGDiGW has pub
lshed very interesting and able article
from the pen of NJ. j. Savage, upon
natural ethics. The question itself IS
one which interests every one, and forces
itself upon the mind, refusing to he
lightly dismissed.
The writer divides humanity, in re-
gard to this question, into three parts
one which holds its religion to lie the
basis OF morality, and fears that only
small minority of the world will have
anything to do with them one winch
declares the world to be on the eve OF
moral interregnum, and third class,
which is much the largest, composed OF
sensible men and women who are deslr-
GUS of knowing if the principles OF human
action are stable, and can be Determined
with sufficient accuracy to be the guide
of personal and social conduct.
In order to see exactly how tho race
stands to-day, it is necessary to look bac';
and see its state in the past Whethe!
it has been on this earth five thousand
or an hundred thousand years, it las
progressed That much is certain, and
dcniel by none. What, then, Is the
cause Of this advancement? This result
might have been accomplished by either
of two a9encies-by tie direct training
and supervision of supernatural per-
son, or by natural processes.
1t is stated in the essay that the power
of ecclesiastical ethics is waning, and the
probabilities are that it will continue to
decrease. The causes are several: First,
by intelligent and free men the clnim
made for the Bible OF Divine authority
is seriously doubted second, the infalli-
bility of the people is denied; third, many
things which have been taught as right
by Bible and Church are now believed
to be not right; fourth, the best churcl
people in practice modify, omit, and nic
to direct commands in the Bible; fifth
it is decided by the test Of conscience
that the God Of the Old Testament Is
immoral sixth, by ecclesiastical author
ity men have been commanded and for
hidden to do many things which coult
affect them neither for good nor evil
seventh, It's opponents are not agreed n
to what they shall teach. The autho
does not deem it nee ssary to substan
tiate these statements, but says only the.
are not to be disregarded so long as hell
by so many.
Those who teach transcendental o
intuitional ethics are quickly disposed
Of. They claim "conscience to be tn
direct voice of God" But its power i
questioned for the following reasons
First, il is full Of contradictions eve
in the same church these conscientou
voices produce h deous discords second
conscience simply says you ought to do
it does not say what; third, conscience
is now known to be not mysterious ant
superhuman guide, but the result OF ex
perience and heredity.
If list of virtues be made out, it wi
be seen that they are such things as he'll
, men, and if vices be catalogued, it is plai
/ that they hurt.
, II there be system of natural ethic
II must have some such basis as thi'
r which is practical and satisfactory. Til
y deepest instinct of animal creation
r life; civilization is improvement in IL
way of living. The history of individual
nations, and the world, shows that life
O the only standard of morality. And Ii
n and happiness are Synonymous. b
g happiness is not gained by reckless gra
ifcation Of desires and appetit $, but |
Q wholesome restraints and control. Nj
as a general thing know what is rigl
and their judgment is instantaneou
Lastly, the natural motives of right Mi
be summed up as "the instructive, II
Is dying and all-powerful human desires t
g life and happiness. This includes tt
d desire, not only for self, but for all, al
/, needs only intelligent guidance to ma
e it progressively and finally effective.
IS Kansas City Times.