Philosophy of Conduct

Abstract

PROF. LADD'S remarkable industry is once more evinced by this bulky and comprehensive work on ethics. The general standpoint adopted, which will be already familiar to readers of other books by the same author, is that of idealist philosophy tempered by a strong interest in the facts and methods of psychology and anthropology.. Prof. Ladd's latest work, while presenting a fairly complete survey of the facts of morality from this point of view, can hardly be said to add anything fresh to our comprehension of the theoretical and practical problems raised by the moral life. The author's arrangement of the subject-matter is perhaps adapted to be of service to students beginning a course in moral philosophy, though the connection he seeks to establish for it with the fundamental factors in psychological analysis seems forced. He treats first of the psychology of the moral life, the nature of the feelings of obligation and approbation, the origin and meaning of moral personality and moral freedom; next of the different types of action esteemed as virtuous or right by the moral judgment; and finally of the metaphysical implications of ethics and religion as held by believers in a personal absolute being. His treatment of the psychology of ethics, though largely acceptable to thinkers of all schools, suffers from a certain want of thoroughness and tendency to dogmatise. This is partly due to his habit of presupposing the results of his previous works on psychology. Now this would be a defensible plan of procedure if systematically followed, but it is at least tantalising to be offered lengthy disquisitions upon such all-important topics as moral freedom and personality, in which all the crucial positions are simply taken for granted. Prof. Ladd should either have dispensed with discussion at all or have made his discussions more thorough. Incidentally I may remark that the professor shows some acrimony in his treatment of opponents, frequently hinting that their opinions on the psychology and metaphysics of ethics are morally “dangerous,” and now and then descending to the calling of names. There is a particularly deplorable personal reference at p. 417 which might well have been spared.

Philosophy of Conduct.

By G. T. Ladd. Pp. xxii + 663. (London: Longmans, Green and Co., 1902.) Price 21s.