 Bertrand Russell Quotes 366 |
We are thus led to the conclusion that there is more agreement among mankind as to the effects at which we should aim than as to the kinds of acts that are approved. I think the contention of Henry Sidgwick, that the acts which are approved of are those that are likely to bring happiness or pleasure, is, broadly speaking, true. Not infrequently, an ancient tabu, which it was formerly thought disastrous to infringe, may survive, through the force of custom and tradition, long after the beliefs which gave rise to it have been forgotten. But in such cases the tabu has a precarious life, and is apt to be thrown over by those who come across, by travel or by study, customs different from those in which they have been brought up.
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We make many 'assumptions'. Many people living in the same area think that it is better this way or that it should be this way, but when we go to another place (especially abroad), we see people who think differently from us who are not unhappy or, in fact, happier.
This fact helps us to understand the importance of travelling, studying (learning) and experiencing living in different areas. This is because those experiences allow us to know different 'outcomes' and there is more agreement among many people (in different countries) about the 'outcomes' than about the 'principle theory'. Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)