| Hutcheson has established the new theory of senses based on Locke’s thought of "senses" and Shaftesbury’s "moral sense".He thought the moral senses can make us aware of the good or evil of others.He has found that the basis of judging good and evil by moral sense is some kind of sentiment.In order to find the sentiment,he has carried on detailed analysis for the sentiments and discovered that the motive of moral behavior,the objectives and purpose of the moral judgment are based on sentiment.Therefore,it is found out that the sentiment is the source of morality.In all sentiments,Hutcheson has found that only the benevolence of the public goodwill can transcend all passions which are specialized and it is the real moral sentiment.He has also criticized the rationalism prevailing at that time,and thinks that rationality plays aided role in morality instead of the decisive role.Because the selfless benevolence of moral sentiment defined by Hutcheson finally refers to the public goodwill.Based on the structure of human nature,Hutcheson thinks that for the public or overall goodwill,"God" has implanted a variety of kindness in human beings,which is a guarantee for the happiness of mankind.On the other hand,adhering to the classical concept of cosmic harmony,he established his own the conception of nature that man should live in harmony with nature.Hutcheson’s moral philosophy is inclined to the political ethics and he classifies all kinds of rights and interest.In this way,he tries to find the boundary of virtue government.It is the most important contribution of Hutcheson that he demonstrated that the emotion is the source of morality,profound the rationality and knowledge theory.He combined sociality and emotion,thus he cross from ethics field to the sociology field.But because he adopts the research methods of natural science,thus the "moral sentiment" based on humanity is incomplete.Originally,its starting point is ultra-utilitarian;however,it ends up with the results obtained by utilitarian calculation.Although Hutcheson’s theory is not widely accepted,but it had a great influence on later generations.Hume and Smith found the different theory of sympathy,it made the core idea of moral sentimentalism further inherit and carry forward.He is still able to provide us with a very useful theoretical guidance and reference,which will constantly remind people to be concern about sentiment in moral world.In the modern age,Slote’s Virtue Ethics that was based on empathy and empathy provides a new direction for theory of moral sentimentalism. |
