Moral Philosophy Week 1

Break down of perceptions, impressions and ideas

Perceptions= the immediate objects of the mind

Perceptions are either impressions or ideas

Simple impressions/ ideas- cannot be broken down

Complex impressions/ ideas- can be broken down

The First Principle of the Science of Human Nature (The Copy Principle)

Simple ideas resemble and causally depend on simple impressions. Complex ideas depend on simple impressions.

Break down of Impressions

Impressions of Sensation- perception, colour, taste, pain, pleasure

Impressions of Reflection- passions, desires, emotions. Derive from ideas that in turn derive from certain bodily sensations.

Experience begins with Impressions of Sensation.

E.g. when you smell rotten eggs, you get the impression of the smell of rotten eggs (sensation), then you develop an aversion to this impression (reflection)

The Association of Ideas

Ideas are related by natural relations are associated by a force akin to gravity or magnetism:

Three natural relations:

Resemblance, Contiguity, Causation

The Passions (original and secondary)

Passions- impressions of reflections

Original passions- do not derive from pleasure or pain, although when acted upon they produce pleasure or pain e.g. benevolence

Secondary passions- divide into direct or indirect passions, whereas original passions do not

Indirect vs direct passions

Direct passions- derive immediately from pleasure or pain e.g. hunger, thirst, desire, aversion, fear

Indirect passions- direct passions derive from pleasure and pain though not directly e.g. pride, humility, love, hate

Calm vs violent passions

Calm passions- operate with little sensible emotions e.g. benevolence, sense of beauty

Violent passions- prone to cause disorder e.g. grief, joy

Strong vs Weak passions

Causal distinction. The role the passions play in an individual’s psychology. The difference between them does not concern their nature

Strong passions- exert a steady influence over one’s conduct.

Weak passion- exert a less steady influence.

Breakdown of Passions (Diagram)

Passions divide into original or secondary passions. Original passions divide into calm or violent passions, which can then be strong or weak. Secondary passions divide into direct or indirect passions, which divide into calm or violent, and these can then be strong or weak.