Ch. 22
Of general principles.
The same general principles are common to all
men, nor does one such principle contradict another; for which of us does not admit that good is
advantageous and eligible, and in all cases to be pursued and followed? Who does not admit that justice
is fair and becoming? Where, then, arises the dispute? In adapting these principles to particular
cases; as when one cries, "Such a person has acted
well, - he is a gallant man;" and another, " No, he
has acted like a fool." Hence arise disputes among
men. This is the dispute between Jews and Syrians
and Egyptians and Romans, - not whether the right
be preferable to all things, and in every instance to
be sought; but whether the eating swine's flesh be
consistent with right, or not. This, too, you will
find to have been the dispute between Achilles and
Agamemnon; for call them forth. What say you,
Agamemnon, -ought not that to be done which is
fit and right? "Yes, surely." Achilles, what say
you, -is it not agreeable to you, that what is right
should be done? "Yes; I desire it beyond everything." Apply your principles then. Here begins
the dispute. One says, "It is not fit that I should
restore Chryseis to her father." The other says, "Yes;
but it is." One or the other of them, certainly,
makes a wrong conception of the principle of fitness.
Again, the one says, " If it be fit that I should give up
Chryseis, it is fit, too, that I should take some of your
prizes." The other answers, "What, that you should
take my mistress?" "Ay; yours." "What, mine
only? Must I only, then, lose my prize?"
What, then, is it to be properly educated? To
learn how to apply the principles of natural right to
particular cases, and, for the rest, to distinguish that
some things are in our power, while others are not.
In our own power are the will, and all voluntary
actions; out of our power, the body and its parts,
property, parents, brothers, children, country, and, in
short, all our fellow-beings. Where, then, shall we
place good? In what shall we define it to consist?
In things within our own power. "But are not
health and strength and life good? And are not
children, parents, country? You talk unreasonably."
Let us, then, try another point of view. Can he
who suffers evil, and is disappointed of good, be
happy? He cannot. And can he preserve a right
behavior with regard to society? How is it possible
that he should? I am naturally led to seek my
own highest good. If, therefore, it is my highest
good to have an estate, it is for my good likewise to
take it away from my neighbor. If it is my highest
good to have a suit of clothes, it is for my good likewise to steal it wherever I find it. Hence wars, seditions, tyranny, unjust invasions. How shall I, if this
be the case, be able any longer to do my duty
towards Zeus? If I suffer evil, and am disappointed,
he takes no care of me. And what is he to me if he
cannot help me; or. again, what is he to me if he
chooses I should be in the condition that I am?
Then I begin to hate him. What, then, do we build
temples, do we raise statues, to Zeus. as to evil
demons, as to the goddess Fever? How, then, is he
the preserver, and how the dispenser of rain and
plenty? If we place the essence of good on any such
ground, all this will follow. What, then, shall we do?
This is the inquiry which interests him who philosophizes in earnest, and to some result. Do I not now
see what is good, and what is evil, or am I mad?
Suppose I place good only in things dependent on my
own will? Why, every one will laugh at me. Some
gray-headed old fellow will come, with his fingers covered with gold rings, and will shake his head, and say,
"Hark ye, child, it is fit you should learn philosophy;
but it is fit, too, you should have common-sense. All
this is nonsense. You learn syllogisms from philosophers; but how you are to act, you know better than
they." Then what displeases you if I do know?
What can I say to this unfortunate? If I make no
answer, he will burst; so I must answer thus: "Bear
with me, as with lovers. Granted; I am not myself.
I have lost my senses."