be right. But as soon as another comes into the field, his equal rights must be respected. As the number increases, land is occupied, food is scarce, and social relations are developed, right and wrong have an increased meaning. Right and wrong, good and evil, are therefore considered as merely relative terms, having no absolute existence.
Mr. Spencer illustrates the origin of "good" and "bad" by these words as applied to "a good house," "a bad umbrella," or "a bad pair of boots," affirming that there is no intrinsic character in good or bad.[1] He concludes that justice is developed from revenge through balancing aggression and counter aggression or compensating life for life in early times.
The same author reasons that as in despotic countries lying is prevalent, and in free countries truthfulness is more general, lying and truthfulness
- ↑ "Principles of Ethics," i., ch. ii.
