《道德原则研究·附录四·论若干语词之争》第9节
A blemish, a fault, a vice, a crime; these expressions seem to denote different degrees of censure and disapprobation; which are, however, all of them, at the bottom, pretty nearly all the same kind of species. The explication of one will easily lead us into a just conception of the others; and it is of greater consequence to attend to things than to verbal appellations. That we owe a duty to ourselves is confessed even in the most vulgar system of morals; and it must be of consequence to examine that duty, in order to see whether it bears any affinity to that which we owe to society. It is probable that the approbation attending the observance of both is of a similar nature, and arises from similar principles, whatever appellation we may give to either of these excellencies.
注释摘要
这段话属于附录四的收束部分。休谟在前面已经完成了四层论证：日常语言从来没能精确划定德性与才能的界线；人们内心对两者的看重本来就没有截然的差别；古代道德学家不加区分地把所有心灵品质都归入德性；近代之所以执着于区分，是因为神学把道德当作受奖惩约束的律法体系，不得不用“是否出于自由意志”来做分水岭。现在他要讲的不再是语词之争的历史渊源，而是用一段更根本的反思把整…