Single Idea 6250

[catalogued under 28. God / A. Divine Nature / 6. Divine Morality / c. God is the good]

Full Idea

We call the Deity morally good, when we apprehend that his whole providence tends to the universal happiness of his creatures.

Gist of Idea

We say God is good if we think everything he does aims at the happiness of his creatures

Source

Francis Hutcheson (Treatise 2: Virtue or Moral Good [1725], §VII.V)

Book Reference

'British Moralists 1650-1800 Vol. 1', ed/tr. Raphael,D.D. [Hackett 1991], p.296


A Reaction

From the point of view of eternity, we might accept that God aims at some even greater good than the happiness of a bunch of miserable little creatures whose bad behaviour merits little reward. The greater good needs to be impressive, though.