Of the Nature of Virtue

Joseph Butler's "Of the Nature of Virtue," appended to his Analogy of Religion, argues that virtue is not simply self-interest or the pursuit of happiness. Instead, he posits that true virtue arises from acting in accordance with conscience, which he viewed as a natural guide to conduct. Butler refuted ethical egoism, the idea that self-interest is the sole motivator of good conduct, and also argued against hedonism, the pursuit of pleasure as the highest good. He believed that happiness is often a byproduct of pursuing other goals, and that direct pursuit of happiness can be self-defeating. For Butler, virtue involves acting according to a well-reasoned plan of life, guided by conscience, and avoiding extremes in actions and passions.12345