The moral-sense doctrine.

Citation

Spencer, H. (1892). The moral-sense doctrine. In H. Spencer, Spencer's synthetic philosophy. Social statics, abridged and revised; together with The man versus the state (pp. 15-24). New York, NY, US: D Appleton & Company.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/14113-003

Abstract

May we not then reasonably expect to find kindred instrumentalities prompting the conduct called moral? All must admit that we are guided to our bodily welfare by instincts; that from instincts also, spring those domestic relationships by which other important objects are compassed; and that certain prompters called sentiments secure our indirect benefit, by regulating social intercourse is it not then probable that a like mental mechanism is at work throughout; and that upright conduct in each being necessary to the happiness of all, there exists in us an impulse towards such conduct; or, in other words, that we possess a "Moral Sense"? (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)