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PREFACE TO THE FOURTH

EDITION.

THE issue of a fourth edition affords an opportunity for making some additions which may be of service to the student.

In the opening part of the Appendix will be found a brief defence of the position that Conscience, regarded as an Intuitive Faculty, must be held to be above education.

The second and more extended portion of the Appendix contains an outline of works bearing upon the study of Ethics, which have appeared in our country since the first publication of this Handbook,

H. C.

UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGI,

19th October 1875.

PREFACE TO FIRST EDITION.

THE present work has been prepared mainly with the view of meeting the wants of University Students.

Two works of similar character were available, The Outlines of Moral Philosophy, by Dugald Stewart, whose name shed lustre over this University, published in its final form in 1808; and A Manual of Moral Philosophy by Professor Fleming of Glasgow, published in 1860. Both of these are text-books of high value. As, however, a want has been felt, and pressed upon my attention, for a book dealing with the subject in view of more recent discussions, I have here attempted to meet the demand.

My aims have been to present the chief problems of Ethical Science; to give an outline of discussion under each, allowing fundamental questions greatest prominence; and to afford a guide for private study by references to the Literature of the Science.

In order to secure space for discussion of the more important problems, details have been omitted such as may be found in the histories of philosophy more commonly in the possession of students.

In some parts, the work wears a controversial character. In the present state of Ethical inquiry, this was unavoidable. The Development Theory (Sensational and Utilitarian) is well represented, both critically and constructively, in the works of Mr. John Stuart Mill, and of Professor Bain. The present Handbook offers an exposition and defence of the Intuitional Theory of Morals, with the criticism of Utilitarianism. The uniform object, however, has been to give a careful representation of the conflicting theories, supplying the reader with materials for independent judgment.

While the interests of University students have been constantly considered, I have endeavoured to provide a book suited for those who wish, apart from academic arrangements, to prosecute the study of Ethical questions.

UNIVERSITY OF Edinburgh,

30th October 1872.

H. C.

THIRD EDITION.

In addition to the verbal corrections introduced into the Second Edition, this involves only slight explanatory variations in the Chapter on First Principles of Morals.

UNIVERSITY Of Edinburgh,

25th November 1873.

H. C.

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