The Control of Ideals; A Contribution to the Study of Ethics (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1920 Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XV MORAL COURAGE Ethics treats of ideals, their origin, nature, possibilities, and control, especially the latter, and this control of our ideals amounts to nothing less than an attempt to lay down the rules for the game of life. More than that--we not only lay down the rules but we invent the game. The scope of the game, rules to be obeyed, and the spirit in which we should play are all parts of ethics. And because we ourselves make the rules is no reason why they should be any the less binding; for, as the player of any game knows, the rules must be obeyed or there is no game and no enjoyment. Also care must be taken that the rules are neither too simple and unprovocative of skill on the one hand, nor unfair or too difficult on the other hand. It is unfair, for instance, to frame the rules in such a manner that some of the players have not even a chance of living and then to try and cultivate a spirit in which those who must inevitably lose will be reconciled to their lot. Every individual should, as far as is humanly possible, have a chance at the game guaranteed, and never be asked to make the supreme sacrifice of giving up his life for others. Wars are the one shrieking injustice of modern times. On the other hand we are not mollycoddles who want life to be an everlasting pink tea without any excitement. And there is the rub. How can we provide excitement without loading the dice? How can the game of life be made interesting for all, and yet not so deathly serious that part of the race will always have to give up its life for the rest? It is the old problem of how to get harmony without shrillness that we have just been discussing. It is the problem that runs through nature everywhere of how to get the greatest diversity consistent with nature'...