History, Philosophy

History, Philosophy

Hume in his book inquires what makes up the ultimate goodness of the moral values in the society. While doing that he is critical of those who see moral principles as good in themselves without reference to their social utility. He is in search of an ultimate standard that will be good without proof and that will serve as the final directive rule for human conduct and he thinks that this ultimate good is human utility. This principle of utility is about both the pursuit of happiness and the prevention of unhappiness. Thus, he argues against religious ways of considering moral principles such as justice as good in themselves and instead indicates that moral values are those which serve for the pleasure of human society. Thus, Hume thinks that what makes moral values universal is the principle of utility which means its being followed by the feeling of happiness everywhere. According to Hume, the concept of morality looses its significance, when it is detached from the positive feelings of individuals such as happiness. Therefore, for Hume, the basis of morality and moral issues is a feeling, not reason. These feelings of happiness or pleasure are what constitute the moral approval itself and they are reason why people continue to adopt them as ultimate good. This can better be understood if we consider what immoral is. Hume’s argument follows that something is immoral not because it is irrational but because it displeases people. According to him, those values that are adopted as moral in the society but contradict utility principle will be eliminated and replaced by new values that fulfill utility principle. He argues that people have the capacity to learn by experience and hence adopt new moral values instead of the old ones which makes them unhappy at the end and violates utility principle. Thus, what best serves for the utility of everyone is something open to reconciliation and new morality can replace the old one.