^06 A SHOET HISTOEY OF ETHICS pt. h

his victim and of those dependent on both, is of no
moral consequence, as Kant's doctrine logically implies.^

The theory of the Summum Bonum is Kant's way
of escape from these obvious difficulties. Actions are
ultimately rewarded by the Deity in exact proportion
to the morality of their motives. So long as we
ignore happiness and pursue virtue only, we shall
ultimately attain happiness ; if we cast our bread
upon the waters we shall find it after many days,
provided we do not look for it ! But the difficulty
cannot be removed in this artificial way. Either
happiness is a worthy object of pursuit, or it is a
morally indifferent end ; and, in the latter case,
virtue cannot be improved by rewards. The only
solution of this ^problem lies in a return to the
Greek position ; ^/the true Well-being of a man must
actually consist in morally right action./ A good
man finds his highest satisfaction in right action ;
and the assertion that a bad man ought to change
his conduct, means, amongst other things, that such a
change would, from the start, yield him higher
satisfaction, and that the satisfaction would be more
permanent. This truth, so clear in Aristotle, was
revived in Eational Idealism.
