from all other Animals. Remarks on the Fallacy of the Scale of Existence. Faculty of Improvement useless, without a Situation fit to call it forth. Purpose of this improvement, a higher State of Existence. Statement of the proposed Argument. Whether Equality or Inequality of Ranks and Fortunes in the situation best suited to the Developement and Improvement of the human Faculties . . Page 31 Proofs in favour of Inequality: from the low State of So- ciety wherever Equality exists. North and South Ameri- cans. Reason of this analyzed. Effects of Example, and Emulation, arising from Division of Property. In- stances from Pelew Islanders. Progress of Civilization. Superiority of civilized Life. Contrary Opinion of Godwin considered. Desire of better- ing the individual Condition, shown to be the only Spur of Industry. Case of Sparta considered, and of Peru. CHAP. IV. Whether Equality or Inequality of Ranks and Fortunes is the Condition best suited to the Exercise of Virtue. Effect of a Community of Goods upon the Opportunities of in civil Society. Duties of the Rich; of the middle On the Principle of Population, and its Effects: in- tended to show that Man is inevitably placed in that Condition which is most calculated to improve his Faculties, and afford Opportunities for the Exercise of Statement of the Principle under every Condition of So- ciety. Its Effect universal, in bringing the Population up to the Supply of Food. First Result of the Principle, the Division of Property. Mode of Operation exem- plified, in the Case of a single Family, for whose In- crease the allotted District is too small. This the Date of the Recognition of Property among the existing II. This Division of Property is followed by the Division of These Effects dependent upon the relative Ratio of the In- crease of Population, and of human Sustenance. Consequence, individual Exertion. Objections against the Dispensation. Evil accompanying it, belongs to an imperfect State. II. Second collateral Benefit, the Communication of Arts and natural Productions. Case of mere Reproduction supposed; its Consequences. Advantage of Migrations. Instances, from Countries with and without Communica- tion: also from a View of the present State of the World; Adaptation of the Principle of Population to peculiar Cir- Recapitulation of the Argument. Concluding Remarks. Sceptical Objections from the Appearance of the World. Proofs of benevolent Intention from the Gratifications at- tached to our Nature, both bodily, and secondly, intel- lectual; sufficient to fix the Onus probandi on the other Objections from the Existence of Evil. Statement of the Question. That Mankind are not placed in the best conceivable State, conceded; but in a State of Probable Reasons of such a Dispensation. Trial necessary to future Reward. Instance in the Call of Difference of tried and untried Virtue. Degree of Evil not greater than was necessary to the Purpose of Discipline. Analogy from the Persecutions of the early General Plan of Justice and Goodness disclosed in the Gospel. The Nature of the Atonement, and the Cause of our being Concluding View of the Effect of moral Evil. CHAP. IV. On natural Evils, and those of civil Life Page 285 Different View they present to different Minds. Natural Evils explained by a probationary State. Death-its moral Effects. Disease-its moral Effects. Evils of civil Life. Their Extent. Affluence not necessary to Happiness. Force of Habit. Intelligence not wanting to the lower Superfluities only rendered necessary by Power of Custom. Conclusion. CHAP. V. On the Capabilities of Improvement in a State of ad- vanced Civilization Page 328 State of Society in Great Britain. Question, whether it admits of Melioration. Ignorance of the Poor, not a necessary Evil. Indigence, its Alleviations and Preventives. Parochial Banks for small Savings, recommended. |