 Bertrand Russell Quotes 366 |
For my part, I am inclined to agree with Jeremy Bentham that the desired result is not likely to be achieved by moral exhortation, but rather by social institutions and a public opinion which make it, as far as possible, to each person’s interest to act as the general interest demands. Bentham, as became his period, was a trifle too rationalistic and external in his devices for bringing about harmony between the public and the private interest. I should allow a larger part than he does to affection, instinctive sympathy, and ambitions that are useful rather than harmful. But I should agree that moral precepts alone are not likely to bring about a good result while the conflict between public and private interests remains sharp and obvious.
Source: Bertrand Russell: Human Society in Ethics and Politics, (1954), chapter 11：
More info.: https://russell-j.com/cool/47T-1105.htm
* a brief comment (Translated with DeepL.com)
* 'Became' is the past tense of the verb 'become', which means 'befitting'. 'Became' here is used in the sense of 'befitting, suitable'.