The contemplation of excellence
Whoever has so far formed his taste , as to be able to relish and feel the beauties of great masters, has gone a great way in his study; merely from a conscientiousness of his relish of the right, the mind swells with an inward pride, and is almost as powerfully affected, as if it had itself produced what is admires. Our hearts, frequently warmed in this manner by the contact of those whom we wish to resemble, will undoubtedly catch something of their way of thinking; and we shall receive in our own bosoms some radiation at least of their fire and splendour, that disposition, which is so strong in children, still continues with us, of catching involuntarily the general air and manner of those with whom we are almost conversant.
Altruism
The strength of altruism lies in the fact that altruistic acts undeniably occur in any society and that moral codes universally advocate altruism or benevolence and condemn selfishness. The issue surrounding altruism include the following. Given the self-preserving tendency of human nature, how are we to account for the existence of altruism? Even if we can understand how altruism occurs, is it morally justified? Are altruistic acts merely apparently and really motivated by self-interest? Since one should reasonably pursue one’s own interest, does the good of others itself provide reason for an agent to promote that good? Given the difficulty in understanding another person, how can altruism really serve the good of others?
译文:
利他主义
卓越的沉思
所有那些有了自己品味，并能欣赏和领会名家风范的人，都已经在学习上取得了长足的进步。因为只要能够真正的欣赏名家杰作时，内心的自豪感便会油然而生，心灵才会因此而触动，仿佛慕名已久的作品就出自己手中。我们的心灵，在与我们乐于效仿的大师接触中经常会激动不已，毫无疑问的，它将捕捉到大师的某些思维方式。并且大师们的火花和光辉会闪耀在我们的心中。我们孩童时期的这种天性会自然而然的受到周围接触的人的神情和举止而感染。
利他主义
关于利他主义的强度，其事实是：利他主义的行为在任何社会都有，这是不可否认的，而且道德准则都是提倡利他主义或仁慈而谴责自私。 如果说自我保护意识是人类的天性，那我们何如解释利他主义的存在呢？即使我们能够理解利他主义是如何产生的，那利他主义在道德上是否具有合理性呢？难道利他主义仅仅是个别表面现象而且真的是为个人利益的动机所驱动吗？既然人应该合理地追求自己的利益，那么他人的利益本身是否有个动因驱使人为他人着想呢？如果说我们很难理解他人，那么利他主义又如何为他人利益而服务呢？