Synthesized answer
Philosophers treat virtue in two main ways. One group, aiming to engage the imagination and affections, selects striking observations and instances from common life. They contrast characters, allure people to virtue through glory and happiness, and guide them with precepts and examples, making them feel the difference between vice and virtue and regulating their sentiments [1].
Another group considers humans as reasonable rather than active beings, focusing on forming the understanding more than cultivating manners. They examine human nature to find principles that regulate understanding, excite sentiments, and lead to approval or blame of actions. These philosophers believe it is a reproach to literature that morality is not yet firmly established, and they strive to determine the source of distinctions like truth and falsehood, vice and virtue [2]. They aim to discover hidden truths that can instruct posterity [2]. Moralists, in particular, have searched for common principles underlying the variety of actions that excite approbation or dislike, expecting to find general principles into which vices and virtues could be resolved [5].
Synthesized from the book passages below. Chat with the book on Feynman for follow-up.
From the book
ubject in an easy and obvious manner, and such as is best fitted to please the imagination, and engage the affections. They select the most striking observations and instances from common life; place opposite characters in a proper contrast; and alluring us into the paths of virtue by the views of glory and happiness, direct our steps in these paths by the soundest precepts and most illustrious examples. They make us _feel_ the difference between vice and virtue; they excite and regulate our sentiments; and so they can but bend our hearts to the love of probity and true honour, they…
te our understanding, excite our sentiments, and make us approve or blame any particular object, action, or behaviour. They think it a reproach to all literature, that philosophy should not yet have fixed, beyond controversy, the foundation of morals, reasoning, and criticism; and should for ever talk of truth and falsehood, vice and virtue, beauty and deformity, without being able to determine the source of these distinctions. While they attempt this arduous task, they are deterred by no difficulties; but proceeding from particular instances to general principles, they still push on…
Stoics_, only a more refined system of selfishness, and reason ourselves out of all virtue as well as social enjoyment. While we study with attention the vanity of human life, and turn all our thoughts towards the empty and transitory nature of riches and honours, we are, perhaps, all the while flattering our natural indolence, which, hating the bustle of the world, and drudgery of business, seeks a pretence of reason to give itself a full and uncontrolled indulgence. There is, however, one species of philosophy which seems little liable to this inconvenience, and that because it…
e vicious with infamy and disappointment, and rewards the virtuous with honour and success, in all their undertakings. But surely, I deny not the course itself of events, which lies open to every one's inquiry and examination. I acknowledge, that, in the present order of things, virtue is attended with more peace of mind than vice, and meets with a more favourable reception from the world. I am sensible, that, according to the past experience of mankind, friendship is the chief joy of human life, and moderation the only source of tranquillity and happiness. I never balance between…
rashly. For how much must we diminish from the beauty and value of this species of philosophy, upon such a supposition? Moralists have hitherto been accustomed, when they considered the vast multitude and diversity of those actions that excite our approbation or dislike, to search for some common principle, on which this variety of sentiments might depend. And though they have sometimes carried the matter too far, by their passion for some one general principle; it must, however, be confessed, that they are excusable in expecting to find some general principles, into which all the…