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Full Idea
The common happiness of all contains the greatest happiness for each, and most effectively promotes it. …There is no path leading anyone to his own happiness, other than the path which leads all to the common happiness.
Gist of Idea
The happiness of all contains the happiness of each, and promotes it
Source
Richard Cumberland (De Legibus Naturae [1672], Ch.I.VI)
Book Ref
'British Moralists 1650-1800 Vol. 1', ed/tr. Raphael,D.D. [Hackett 1991], p.87
A Reaction
I take this as a revolutionary idea, which leads to utilitarianism. It is doing what seemed to the Greeks unthinkable, which is combining hedonism with altruism. There is no proof for it, but it is a wonderful clarion call for building a civil society.
| 6217 | Natural law is supplied to the human mind by reality and human nature [Cumberland] |
| 6216 | Natural law is immutable truth giving moral truths and duties independent of society [Cumberland] |
| 6218 | The happiness of individuals is linked to the happiness of everyone (which is individuals taken together) [Cumberland] |
| 6220 | The happiness of all contains the happiness of each, and promotes it [Cumberland] |
| 6222 | If a decision is in accord with right reason, everyone can agree with it [Cumberland] |
| 6221 | If there are different ultimate goods, there will be conflicting good actions, which is impossible [Cumberland] |