按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
and usually diminishes； by a greater or less amount； the general
resource； of the community。 If he deteriorates his bodily or mental
faculties； he not only brings evil upon all who depended on him for
any portion of their happiness； but disqualifies himself for rendering
the services which he owes to his fellow creatures generally；
perhaps becomes a burthen on their affection or benevolence； and if
such conduct were very frequent； hardly any offence that is
committed would detract more from the general sum of good。 Finally； if
by his vices or follies a person does no direct harm to others； he
is nevertheless （it may be said） injurious by his example； and ought
to be compelled to control himself； for the sake of those whom the
sight or knowledge of his conduct might corrupt or mislead。
And even （it will be added） if the consequences of misconduct
could be confined to the vicious or thoughtless individual； ought
society to abandon to their own guidance those who are manifestly
unfit for it？ If protection against themselves is confessedly due to
children and persons under age； is not society equally bound to afford
it to persons of mature years who are equally incapable of
self…government？ If gambling； or drunkenness； or incontinence； or
idleness； or uncleanliness； are as injurious to happiness； and as
great a hindrance to improvement； as many or most of the acts
prohibited by law； why （it may be asked） should not law； so far as
is consistent with practicability and social convenience； endeavour to
repress these also？ And as a supplement to the unavoidable
imperfections of law； ought not opinion at least to organise a
powerful police against these vices； and visit rigidly with social
penalties those who are known to practise them？ There is no question
here （it may be said） about restricting individuality； or impeding the
trial of new and original experiments in living。 The only things it is
sought to prevent are things which have been tried and condemned
from the beginning of the world until now； things which experience has
shown not to be useful or suitable to any person's individuality。
There must be some length of time and amount of experience after which
a moral or prudential truth may be regarded as established： and it
is merely desired to prevent generation after generation from
falling over the same precipice which has been fatal to their
predecessors。
I fully admit that the mischief which a person does to himself may
seriously affect； both through their sympathies and their interests；
those nearly connected with him and； in a minor degree； society at
large。 When； by conduct of this sort； a person is led to violate a
distinct and assignable obligation to any other person or persons； the
case is taken out of the self…regarding class； and becomes amenable to
moral disapprobation in the proper sense of the term。 If； for example；
a man； through intemperance or extravagance； becomes unable to pay his
debts； or； having undertaken the moral responsibility of a family；
becomes from the same cause incapable of supporting or educating them；
he is deservedly reprobated； and might be justly punished； but it is
for the breach of duty to his family or creditors； not for the
extravagance。 If the resources which ought to have been devoted to
them； had been diverted from them for the most prudent investment； the
moral culpability would have been the same。 George Barnwell murdered
his uncle to get money for his mistress； but if he had done it to
set himself up in business； he would equally have been hanged。
Again； in the frequent case of a man who causes grief to his family by
addiction to bad habits； he deserves reproach for his unkindness or
ingratitude； but so he may for cultivating habits not in themselves
vicious； if they are painful to those with whom he passes his life；
who from personal ties are dependent on him for their comfort。 Whoever
fails in the consideration generally due to the interests and feelings
of others； not being compelled by some more imperative duty； or
justified by allowable self…preference； is a subject of moral
disapprobation for that failure； but not for the cause of it； nor
for the errors； merely personal to himself； which may have remotely
led to it。 In like manner； when a person disables himself； by
conduct purely self…regarding； from the performance of some definite
duty incumbent on him to the public； he is guilty of a social offence。
No person ought to be punished simply for being drunk； but a soldier
or a policeman should be punished for being drunk on duty。 Whenever；
in short； there is a definite damage； or a definite risk of damage；
either to an individual or to the public； the case is taken out of the
province of liberty； and placed in that of morality or law。
But with regard to the merely contingent； or； as it may be called；
constructive injury which a person causes to society； by conduct which
neither violates any specific duty to the public； nor occasions
perceptible hurt to any assignable individual except himself； the
inconvenience is one which society can afford to bear； for the sake of
the greater good of human freedom。 If grown persons are to be punished
for not taking proper care of themselves； I would rather it were for
their own sake； than under pretence of preventing them from
impairing their capacity or rendering to society benefits which
society does not pretend it has a right to exact。 But I cannot consent
to argue the point as if society had no means of bringing its weaker
members up to its ordinary standard of rational conduct； except
waiting till they do something irrational； and then punishing them；
legally or morally； for it。 Society has had absolute power over them
during all the early portion of their existence： it has had the
whole period of childhood and nonage in which to try whether it
could make them capable of rational conduct in life。 The existing
generation is master both of the training and the entire circumstances
of the generation to come； it cannot indeed make them perfectly wise
and good； because it is itself so lamentably deficient in goodness and
wisdom； and its best efforts are not always； in individual cases；
its most successful ones； but it is perfectly well able to make the
rising generation； as a whole； as good as； and a little better than；
itself。 If society lets any considerable number of its members grow up
mere children； incapable of being acted on by rational consideration
of distant motives； society has itself to blame for the
consequences。 Armed not only with all the powers of education； but
with the ascendency which the authority of a received opinion always
exercises over the minds who are least fitted to judge for themselves；
and aided by the natural