Page:Ferrier Works vol 2 1888 LECTURES IN GREEK PHILOSOPHY.pdf/352

Rh And let us further suppose that some of those dishes which minister most to his enjoyment are exceedingly prejudicial to his health, while some of those which are rather bitter in the mouth make amends for their repulsiveness by filling him with redundant life, activity, and strength. Now he is in a condition analogous to the position of man considered as susceptible of happiness and misery. But let us ask what change in the end at which he aims, and what change in the duty which guides him in the pursuit, are likely to be brought about by this altered state of things? The following change, I apprehend, is very likely to ensue. He will be very apt to set up the personal pleasure derived from eating and drinking as his end, instead of the old end, a vigorous and active life: and, aiming at this new end, he will be inclined to devour those meats which contribute most to his enjoyment, without caring how injurious they are to his life and health, while, heedless of its sanitary properties, he will avoid that food which offers no great temptation to his palate. This change in the end will be very apt to bring along with it a change in his conception of duty. Enjoyment being now fixed as his end, he will be very apt to suppose that his duty must consist in attaining to that end at all hazards; and thus he will be led, as I said, to indulge his gluttonous propensities, not keeping his eye on that other end, his health, which the new object of his desire, the new summum bonum, has thrown into the shade.