《道德原则研究·第四章·论政治社会》第5节
[休谟自注] That the lighter machine yield to the heavier, and, in machines of the same kind, that the empty yield to the loaded; this rule is founded on convenience. That those who are going to the capital take place of those who are coming from it; this seems to be founded on some idea of dignity of the great city, and of the preference of the future to the past. From like reasons, among foot-walkers, the right-hand entitles a man to the wall, and prevents jostling, which peaceable people find very disagreeable and inconvenient. To carry the matter farther, we may observe, that it is impossible for men so much as to murder each other without statutes, and maxims, and an idea of justice and honour. War has its laws as well as peace; and even that sportive kind of war, carried on among wrestlers, boxers, cudgel-players, gladiators, is regulated by fixed principles. Common interest and utility beget infallibly a standard of right and wrong among the parties concerned.
注释摘要
这段自注紧接在正文对“一般规则往往溢出其最初原则”的讨论之后，休谟用一系列交通与交往的实例来加固同一个论点：规则起于效用，但效用的具体形态各有不同，有些纯然出于便利，有些则掺杂了想象与联想。 他先举车马交会的规则。较轻的车让较重的车，同类的车空车让重载，这一条的根据明明白白是便利——重的、载了货的更难停下或偏让，所以由轻的、空的来让，整体摩擦最小。接着他换…