“On the ground either of positivism or of materialism, ethics can never, properly speaking, be morals. If it escapes fatalism of the hardest sort, with all the consequent hopelessness for most, it cannot avoid hedonism, nor, in the logical end, an egoistic and utterly transient and trivial hedonism.”

— George Holmes Howison

Source: The Limits of Evolution, and Other Essays, Illustrating the Metaphysical Theory of Personal Ideaalism (1905), Appendix B: The System in its Ethical Necessity and its Practical Bearings, p.395-6

Adopted from Wikiquote. Last update June 3, 2021. History

Help us to complete the source, original and additional information

Do you have more details about the quote "On the ground either of positivism or of materialism, ethics can never, properly speaking, be morals. If it escapes fat…" by George Holmes Howison?

George Holmes Howison 135

American philosopher 1834–1916

Related quotes

“By consequence I hold that no one ever did, or can do, anything for "society."… Comte invented the term altruism as an antonym for egoism, and it found its way at once into everyone's mouth, although it is utterly devoid of meaning, since it points to nothing that ever existed in mankind; This hybrid or rather this degenerate form of hedonism served powerfully to invest collectivism's principles with a specious moral sanction, and collectivists naturally made the most of it.”

Albert Jay Nock (1870–1945) American journalist

Source: Memoirs of a Superfluous Man (1943), p. 305

“There’s Socialism and Communism and Capitalism and there’s Feminism and Hedonism, and there’s Catholicism and Bipedalism and Consumerism, but I think Narcissism is the system that means the most to me.”

Tony Hoagland (1953–2018) American writer

“We cannot avoid or escape, but we can sing.”

Rima Das (1982) Indian Assamese film maker

As to why the title of the film Bulbul Can Sing has the word sing, and why it matters to the story
Women And Hollywood Article - Under the Radar: Rima Das’ “Bulbul Can Sing” Examines the Joy and Pain of Growing Up - 6 November 2018 https://womenandhollywood.com/under-the-radar-rima-das-bulbul-can-sing-examines-the-joy-and-pain-of-growing-up/ - Archive https://web.archive.org/web/20210728172902/https://womenandhollywood.com/under-the-radar-rima-das-bulbul-can-sing-examines-the-joy-and-pain-of-growing-up/
BULBUL CAN SING Director Q&A | TIFF 2018, at 12 Min 48 Sec https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQ4vt8ASzE8

“The moral beatings that people took from their children, I was thinking, were the hardest to endure and the hardest to escape.”

Ross Macdonald (1915–1983) Novelist

The Goodbye Look (1969)

“My actions are my only true belongings. I cannot escape the consequences of my actions. My actions are the ground on which I stand.”

Thich Nhat Hanh (1926) Religious leader and peace activist

Source: Understanding Our Mind: 50 Verses on Buddhist Psychology

“Above all avoid speaking of persons, either in the way of praise or blame, or comparison. If you can, win over the conversation of your company to what it should be by your own. But if you should find yourself cut off without escape among strangers and aliens, be silent.”

Epictetus (50–138) philosopher from Ancient Greece

Golden Sayings of Epictetus
Context: Let silence be your general rule; or say only what is necessary and in few words. We shall, however, when occasion demands, enter into discourse sparingly, avoiding such common topics as gladiators, horse-races, athletes; and the perpetual talk about food and drink. Above all avoid speaking of persons, either in the way of praise or blame, or comparison. If you can, win over the conversation of your company to what it should be by your own. But if you should find yourself cut off without escape among strangers and aliens, be silent. (164).