第8部分(第4/7 頁)

ntly　we　may　say　the　act　itself；　recoils　upon　the　perpetrator；　—　reacts　upon　him　with

destructive　tendency。　This　union　of　the　two　extremes　—　the　embodiment　of　a　general　idea　in　the

form　of　direct　reality；　and　the　elevation　of　a　speciality　into　connection　with　universal　truth　—　is

brought　to　pass；　at　first　sight；　under　the　conditions　of　an　utter　diversity　of　nature　between　the　two；

and　an　indifference　of　the　one　extreme　towards　the　other。　The　aims　which　the　agent　set　before

them　are　limited　and　special；　but　it　must　be　remarked　that　the　agents　themselves　are　intelligent

thinking　beings。　The　purport　of　their　desires　is　interwoven　with　general；　essential　considerations

of　justice；　good；　duty；　&c；　for　mere　desire　—　volition　in　its　rough　and　savage　forms　—　falls　not

within　the　scene　and　sphere　of　Universal　History。　Those　general　considerations；　which　form　at　the

same　time　a　norm　for　directing　aims　and　actions；　have　determinate　purport；　for　such　an　abstraction

as　“good　for　its　own　sake；”　has　no　place　in　living　reality。　If　men　are　to　act；　they　must　not　only

intend　the　Good；　but　must　have　decided　for　themselves　whether　this　or　that　particular　thing　is　a

Good。　What　special　course　of　action；　however；　is　good　or　not；　is　determined；　as　regards　the

ordinary　contingencies　of　private　life；　by　the　laws　and　customs　of　a　State；　and　here　no　great

difficulty　is　presented。　Each　individual　has　his　position；　he　knows　on　the　whole　what　a　just；

honourable　course　of　conduct　is。　As　to　ordinary；　private　relations；　the　assertion　that　it　is　difficult　to

choose　the　right　and　good；　—　the　regarding　it　as　the　mark　of　an　exalted　morality　to　find　difficulties

and　raise　scruples　on　that　scor