That action is best, which procures the greatest happiness for the greatest numbers.

Francis Hutcheson

An Inquiry into the Original of our Ideas of Beauty and Virtue

More information about this quote

Topic

Utilitarianism Moral theory Morality

Author

Francis Hutcheson

Medium

Treatise

Genre

Philosophical literature

Statement Type

Precepts and axioms

Language

English

Time

1725 1720s 18th century

Occupation

Philosopher Writer

From

United Kingdom Europe

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Hutcheson, Francis. An Inquiry into the Original of our Ideas of Beauty and Virtue. London: J. Darby, 1726, treatise 2, sect. 3, subsect. 8.

Current Citation

Hutcheson, Francis. An Inquiry into the Original of Our Ideas of Beauty and Virtue, edited by Wolfgang Leidhold. Liberty Fund, 2008.

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Related Quotes

Below are one or more quotes that share at least one tag with the quote at the top of the page

Another quote from the 1720s

I said there was a society of men among us bred up from their youth in the art of proving by words multiplied for the purpose that white is black and black is white, according as they are paid. To this society all the rest of the people are slaves.

Jonathan Swift

Gulliver's Travels

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More information about this quote
Topic
Lawyers
Speaker
On lawyers.

Author

Jonathan Swift
Source
Gulliver's Travels
Genre
Satire Travel writing
Language
English
Time
1726 1720s 18th century
Authentication Score 3
Original Citation

Swift, Jonathan. Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World. In Four Parts. By Lemuel Gulliver, First a Surgeon, and then a Captain of Several Ships. London: Benjamin Motte, 1726, pt. 4, ch. 5.

Current Citation

Swift, Jonathan. Gulliver's Travels, edited by Albert J. Rivero. W. W. Norton & Company, 2001, pt. 4, ch. 5.

Another quote about Moral theory

What I say is that "just" or "right" means nothing but what is to the interest of the stronger party.

Thrasymachus

Quoted in Republic, by Plato

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More information about this quote
Topic
Might makes right Justice Political theory Moral theory Morality
Speaker
Thrasymachus

Author

Plato
Source
Republic
Medium
Philosophical dialogue Dialogue
Genre
Philosophical literature
Language
Greek
Time
375 BC 370s BC 4th century BC
Era
Classical antiquity
Authentication Score 2
Original Citation

Thrasymachus. Quoted in Πολιτεία [Republic], written by Plato. c. 375 BCE.

Current Citation

Thrasymachus. Quoted in Republic, written by Plato, translated by Desmond Lee. Penguin Classics, 2007.

Another quote of the following type Precepts and axioms

From each according to his abilities, to each according to his needs!

Karl Marx

Read Critique of the Gotha Programme at marxists.org
More information about this quote
Topic
Redistribution of wealth Socialism Communism Political theory Politics

Author

Karl Marx
Source
Critique of the Gotha Programme
Genre
Political literature Economic literature
Statement Type
Precepts and axioms
Language
German
Time
1883 1880s 19th century
Authentication Score 2
Original Citation

Marx, Karl. Kritik des Gothaer Programms [Critique of the Gotha Programme]. Berlin: Friedrich Engels, 1891, pt. 1.

Current Citation

Marx, Karl. Critique of the Gotha Program, translated by Kevin B. Anderson. PM Press, 2022, pt. 1.