Morality, it was pointed out, thus began in family
relations, and conduct which disrupted the family was wrong, while that
which strengthened and consolidated it was right. Thus family morality
was established. As families congregated together for mutual protection
and support, their separate interests as families were found to be
conflicting, and so a _modus vivendi_ was sought in the same
principle which governed relations within the family: the common
interests of the grouped families, the tribe, must prevail over the
separate and conflicting interests of the separate families; that which
disrupted the tribe was wrong, while that which strengthened and
consolidated it was right. Thus tribal morality was established. The
next step was taken as tribes grouped themselves together and became
a nation, and morality extended so as to include all who were within
the nation; that which disrupted the nation was wrong, and that which
consolidated and strengthened it was right. Thus national morality was
established. Further than that, utilitarian morality has not progressed,
and international relations have not yet been moralised; they remain
in the savage state, and recognise no moral law. Germany has boldly
accepted this position, and declares formally that, for the State,
Might is Right, and that all which the State can do for its own
aggrandisement, for the increase of its power, it may and ought to do,
for there is no rule of conduct to which it owes obedience; it is a law
unto itself.
Pages:
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28