An overview

This essay is a preview to the Inquiry. It was originally published in The London Journal with the signature Philanthropos.

Being virtually unknown, it has not been much discussed. Many of those who have studied Hutcheson's life and work have been unaware of the existence of this text. This applies to the editor of the Collected Works, where it is not included, and to others before him, e.g. Fowler, Scott, and Jessop. There is now, however, an excellent exposition by James Moore of Hutcheson's thought, with an interesting discussion in which this essay is given due attention.

Hutcheson begins by quoting a passage from Horace; this, and his general approach, would place him close to Shaftesbury in the minds of well-informed readers. He then formulates his challenge: the ‘systems of morality’ do not seem to succeed in what they are supposed to do: to make people feel better and be better.

In paragraph 5, Hutcheson explains how he will conduct his discussion. He takes for granted that there are two major questions dealt with in the ‘systems of morality’. One concerns motivation: why are people moral? Why should I be moral? The other concerns the precepts of morality: what actions are right? The first of these is dealt with in paragraphs 6-15 and the second in paragraphs 16-21.

The text divides, accordingly, into three main parts. The first is introductory and articulates Hutcheson's view of the task of moral philosophy.