Page:Philosophical Review Volume 4.djvu/306

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THE PHILOSOPHICAL REVIEW.
[Vol. IV.

in which he attempts to prove that he who performs good actions in gratitude for benefits already received, shows less generosity than one who is moved to action "by the hope only of good." The relation of Cumberland's biological proof of altruism to evolutionary theory is obvious. At the same time, it should be noted that his position here is not inconsistent with his essentially static view of the Nature of Things.

In the present article, we first considered the ethical views of Grotius and of Hobbes (particularly regarding the Laws of Nature), as far as necessary for an understanding of Cumberland, and noted the different tendencies represented by the opponents of Hobbes, prominent among whom was Cumberland himself. After seeing that More could not properly be classed as a Utilitarian, we passed on to the examination of Cumberland's system. We first reviewed the main points considered in the Introduction to his treatise, and then proceeded to the first main division of the exposition, i.e., Cumberland's view of the nature of man and of human society. In the next (and concluding) article, we shall take up the author's doctrine of the Good, and his conception of Laws of Nature.

Ernest Albee.