バートランド・ラッセル『ヒューマン・ソサエティ-倫理学から政治学へ』10-02- Human Society in Ethics and Politics, 1954
* 原著:Human Society in Ethics and Politics, 1954* 邦訳書:バートランド・ラッセル(著),勝部真長・長谷川鑛平(共訳)『ヒューマン・ソサエティ-倫理学から政治学へ』(玉川大学出版部,1981年7月刊。268+x pp.)
『ヒューマン・ソサエティ』第10章:倫理学における権威 n.2 |
Human Society in Ethics and Politics, 1954, chapter 10: Authority in Ethics, n.2 | |||
議論を2つの問いに集約(← crystallize 結晶化する)することが可能であろう。(即ち)問いA. なぜ「あなたが」すべきだと言うことを私がしなければならないのか? 問いB. 倫理的な意見の相違がある場合、どのように決めるべきか? 問いAから始めよう。
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We may crystallize our discussion round two questions: A. Why should I do what you say I ought.? B. Where there are ethical disagreements, how shall we decide? Let us begin with A. There is here, to begin with, a religious answer, which has the merit of simplicity. You should do what I say you ought, because that is the Will of God. The man who is not convinced by this simple answer may reply in either of two ways. He may say, “How do you know it is the Will of God?” or he may say, “Why should I obey God’s Will”. To the second of these questions there is a simple answer: “God is omnipotent and, if you do not obey His Will, He will punish you. Whereas, if you do, you may get to Heaven.” This answer pre-supposes egoistic hedonism, namely, the doctrine that every man should try to get as much pleasure for himself as possible. This has always been the orthodox Christian teaching, although rhetorically-minded moralists have tried to wrap it up in edifying phrases. It makes morality indistinguishable from prudence, which may be defined as the endurance of a small present evil for the sake of a great future good. The reasons for virtue in this doctrine are precisely identical with the reasons for not living beyond your income. The doctrine does not differ from that of secular moralists on any point of ethics, but only on a question of brute fact: namely, shall I, if I do A, enjoy eternal bliss in Heaven, but if I do B, suffer eternal torments in Hell? This is not an ethical question. I will therefore discuss it no further. |