Chapter VI: Restraints On Blame
CHAPTER VI.
RESTRAINTS ON BLAME
§ 415. The subject-matter of this chapter joins naturally on to that of the last chapter—is, in fact, scarcely to be parted from it: since criticisms passed in conversation and controversy necessarily imply a kind of blame. But blame, specially so called, is sufficiently distinguishable to be separately treated.
Chapter VII: Restraints On Praise
CHAPTER VII.
RESTRAINTS ON PRAISE
§ 421. How that form of altruism which we here distinguish as negative beneficence, should put any check on praise, is not obvious: to most, indeed, will appear incomprehensible.
Chapter VIII: The Ultimate Sanctions
CHAPTER VIII.
THE ULTIMATE SANCTIONS
§ 426. Though occasionally, in the foregoing chapters, I have briefly indicated the origin of the obligation to be beneficent, I have not under each head referred to this origin, but have thought it best here to emphasize it generally.
Part VI: Positive Beneficence
Chapter I: Marital Beneficence
CHAPTER I.
MARITAL BENEFICENCE
§ 428. In the history of humanity as written, the saddest part concerns the treatment of women; and had we before us its unwritten history we should find this part still sadder. I say the saddest part because, though there have been many things more conspicuously dreadful—cannibalism, the torturings of prisoners, the sacrificings of victims to ghosts and gods—these have been but occasional; whereas the brutal treatment of women has been universal and constant.
Chapter II: Parental Beneficence
CHAPTER II.
PARENTAL BENEFICENCE
§ 434. Already in the chapter on “Parenthood” forming part of “The Ethics of Individual Life,” much has been said which might equally well or better have been reserved for treatment under the above title. But the conduct of parents to children has still several aspects, not included in that chapter, which remain to be considered here.
Chapter III: Filial Beneficence
CHAPTER III.
FILIAL BENEFICENCE
§ 439. Many years of childhood have to pass before there can be entertained the thought of naturally-derived obligations to parents—whether those which justice imposes or those which beneficence imposes. The obligation to obedience is indeed perpetually insisted upon; and, while in some cases ignored, is, in other cases, duly recognized. But in any case it is conceived as established by arbitrary authority. There is little or no idea of its natural fitness.
Chapter IV: Aiding The Sick And The Injured
CHAPTER IV.
AIDING THE SICK AND THE INJURED
§ 441. Part of the subject-matter of the preceding three chapters is included under the title of this chapter; for marital beneficence, parental beneficence, and filial beneficence, severally dictate solicitous care of any member of the family who is suffering from illness or from accident. In the natural order of things the house becomes at need a hospital and its inmates nurses.
Chapter V: Succour To The Ill-Used And The Endangered
CHAPTER V.
SUCCOUR TO THE ILL-USED AND THE ENDANGERED
§ 444. In everyone who is capable of ethical ideas and sentiments, more than one kind of motive prompts the defense of those who are aggressed upon: especially when they are weaker than the aggressors.
Chapter VI: Pecuniary Aid To Relatives And Friends
CHAPTER VI.
PECUNIARY AID TO RELATIVES AND FRIENDS
§ 449. A curious change of sentiments has accompanied a curious change of obligations, during the transition from that ancient type of social structure in which the family is the unit of composition to that modern type in which the individual is the unit of composition.
