Acceptance Quote by Charles Caleb Colton
“There are two principles of established acceptance in morals; first, that self-interest is the mainspring of all of our actions, and secondly, that utility is the test of their value.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Thoughts on Morality, 1820
Self-interest drives actions, while utility measures their moral worth; morality is judged by the usefulness of outcomes.
In simple terms: Self-interest motivates; usefulness judges morality.
Key Takeaway
Consider both motives and outcomes in ethical decisions.
Themes
ethics
self-interest
utility
morality
philosophy
Mood
critical
philosophical
inquisitive
Type
theoretical
ethical
analytical
When to use this quote
- business ethics
- public policy
- personal decision making
- philanthropy
- resource allocation
Key Concepts
Consequentialism
human motivation
moral evaluation
Questions to Reflect On
- What actions balance self-interest with societal good?
- How do we measure utility fairly?
A Different Perspective
Utility can be hard to quantify and may ignore rights.
