July 27, 1767
Dr. Irenio July of 27th. 1767
I received your favour of
the 26th instant, and without preface do
heartily concur in your proposal, I am
delighted with the subject, and shall give
my poor thoughts upon it, with a great deal
of pleasure. I would define it thus.
Moral philosophy or Ethics is an art
which treats of virtue & vice and prescribes
rules for attaining the one, and avoiding
the other; according to this definition we
shall leave out religion, (that is revealed
Religion,) as belonging to theology, or Di-
-vinity. Happiness is the great end, to
which all the designs, and aims of rational
creatures aspire, some persons place hap-
piness in one thing, some in another;
and according to their judgments in re-
spect of it differ, so do their methods of