cu. IX CONCLUSION 291

applied in being more general and seeking for funda-
mental, principles. But it is not always possible
to draw a sharp line between them. Pure Ethics
inevitably leads to applied, since taken alone it is too
abstract to fulfil any practical end. Applied Ethics
deals with more concrete subjects, the Family, the
State, and special economic social and legal questions ;
these again require special knowledge, and thus it
happens that applied Ethics cannot altogether be
regarded as a distinct science; it is rather the
intelligent application of Science, Art, and the other
results of human experience in accordance with the
spirit of the ethical ideal that is adopted. Very
few general ethical principles can be used with
precision in actual life, because they cannot take
into account all the particular circumstances which
may arise ; consequently there is often uncertainty
about the answers to moral problems until we come
to particular cases. Hence the individual has to
use his own judgment, to construct his own system
of applied Ethics ; and here conscientiousness, the
permanent will to act in the spirit of the objective
ideal in which he believes, is indispensable, though it
may mislead, unless guided by reflecting intelligence.
And some " moral sense," or an intuitive practical
insight, is essential, though, as we have seen, it cannot
be regarded as infallible. The practical use of pure
ethical theory, and of the study of its history, is to
correct moral insight by arousing reflection, which is
one of the stepping-stones by which man can rise to
higher things.
