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Utilitarian standards cannot explain the ethical relations of men,

for, in the first place, we cannot derive any ethical laws from

considerations of utility. Without the supernatural sanction as it is

called, or the perception of the superconscious as I prefer to term

it, there can be no ethics. Without the struggle towards the Infinite

there can be no ideal. Any system that wants to bind men down to the

limits of their own societies is not able to find an explanation for

the ethical laws of mankind. The Utilitarian wants us to give up the

struggle after the Infinite, the reaching-out for the Supersensuous,

as impracticable and absurd, and, in the same breath, asks us to take

up ethics and do good to society. Why should we do good? Doing good

is a secondary consideration. We must have an ideal. Ethics itself is

not the end, but the means to the end. If the end is not there, why

should we be ethical?

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Today we continue:

 

THE NECESSITY OF RELIGION

(Delivered in London)

 

This lecture is found in Vol. II of the Complete Works, pg. 57-69,

Part of Jnana Yoga.

 

This is a part of a daily study of the lectures and writings of Swami

Vivekananda. All lectures are sent out in sequenced form, as he spoke

them.

 

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