David Hume's Moral Code

Through An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals, David Hume demonstrates how individuals moral code is more influenced by their feelings than reason. He further proves that only by acknowledging this can people have the ability to be happy. In addition to the feelings that arise from moral decisions, these judgements are also made on the basis of something’s usefulness. Feelings of an action being positive or negative depend on whether a person views it as useful or not. Hume proceeds to provide examples of human virtues that are functions of utility. One of these virtues he classifies as wit or ingenuity. This quality is especially vital since it is an imperatively useful tool in social interactions. Rather than providing a precise …show more content…
However, it is crucial that he use cleverness to determine what stories are acceptable or not. First Hume proclaims, “the teller of long stories, [...] is very little approved of” (VIII). While the stories a witty person tells are supposed to be entertaining, they should not be speaking so much that the other person cannot get a word in. If this were to happen, the listener would be very annoyed and perhaps jealous that they could not partake in the conversation. Additionally while telling stories, it is only in certain situations that lying is acceptable. Hume writes this untruthfulness is allowable in the context of, “humorous stories; because it is there really agreeable and entertaining; and truth is not of any importance” (VIII). When telling humorous stories to others, fiction is okay since no one will find personal offence. Although Hume states it would be preferable to be truthful, individuals will most likely take these harmless lies lightly and find entertainment in them. An example of this would be if a parent tells their young child a story about a fictional topic such as talking animals. No one will find this act deceiving but rather think of it light-heartedly as the child listening finds joy in the story. However, if someone were to make up a serious event they claim to have experienced many would be irritated. These kinds of stories can be seen prevalently in fake news …show more content…
If used in the correct way, one will be rewarded for their sense of humor and cleverness. When making first impressions on people, if a person can use acceptable jokes in conversation they have a much greater chance of being liked by others. Wit can be seen prevalently in job interviews where first impressions are crucial. If someone can be seen as entertaining, the interviewer will be intrigued and enjoy their company. This skill is clearly useful in this context since the immediate pleasure received by the interview is to the person's benefit. Though, ingenuity must be present to assist wit. While conversing with people, one must first determine who they would like to be around. This requires a level of cleverness which humans feelings and thus this virtue can lead them

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