BOOK III PART I
that term is no less applicable to those judg-
ments, by which we distinguish moral good
and evil, than to every other operation of the
mind. To approve of one character, to con-
demn another, are only so many different per-
ceptions.
Now as perceptions resolve themselves into
two kinds, viz. impressions and ideas, this dis-
tinction gives rise to a question, with which we
shall open up our present enquiry concerning
morals.Whether it is by means of our ideas or im-
pressions we distinguish betwixt vice and virtue,
and pronounce an action blamable or praiswor-
thiy? This will immediately cut off all loose
discourses and declamations, and reduce us
to something precise and exact on the present
subject.
Those who affirm that virtue is nothing but