# The Foundations of Morality By Henry Hazlitt **URL:** **By** Bettina Greaves **Published:** February 1, 1974 --- “Mr. Hazlitt’s position is that “the interests of the individual and the interests of society,” when “rightly understood,” are in harmony, not in conflict.” The many contradictions among different philosophical theories have caused much confusion over the years. Unfortunately, too few teachers and textbooks explain the basic principles that could help students discriminate intelligently among them and understand the ethical code which fosters freedom, morality and social cooperation. Thus, Henry Hazlitt deserves special credit for bringing logic and clarity to the subject. Mr. Hazlitt’s position is that “the interests of the individual and the interests of society,” when “rightly understood,” are in harmony, not in conflict. His goal in writing this book was “to present a ‘unified theory’ of law, morals and manners” which could be logically explained and defended in the light of modern economics and the principles of jurisprudence. He has marshalled the ideas of many philosophers and analyzed them with careful logic. He has formulated a consistent moral philosophy based on an understanding of the ethical principles which promote peaceful social cooperation and free enterprise production. Mr. Hazlitt points out that our complex market economy requires peaceful and voluntary cooperation. The preservation of the market is essential for large-scale production and thus for the very survival of most of us. Therefore, social cooperation is the very most important _means_ available to individuals for attaining their various personal ends. This means that social cooperation is also at the same time a well worthwhile _goal_. The system of philosophy outlined in the book is a form of utilitarianism, “insofar as it holds that actions or rules of action are to be judged by their consequences and their tendency to promote human happiness.” The criterion for judging the consistency or inconsistency of a specific rule or action is always whether or not it promotes social cooperation. Mr. Hazlitt reasons from the thesis that social cooperation is of benefit to everyone. The predominant moral code in a society is compared with language or “common law.” Society does not impose a moral code on the individual, according to Hazlitt. It is a set of rules, hammered out bit by bit over many centuries. Mr. Hazlitt discusses many perplexing ideas and concepts such as natural rights, natural law, justice, selfishness, altruism, right, wrong, truth, honesty, duty, moral obligation, free will vs. determinism, politeness, “white lies.” Anyone who has speculated on these problems without reaching satisfactory conclusions, as has this reviewer, will no doubt find his analyses and comments both stimulating and enlightening. The book contains numerous quotations from the works of earlier and recent philosophers, which the author always analyzes for their consistency with social cooperation. Mr. Hazlitt has long been a noted free-market economist—one of the very best. With the publication of _The Foundations of Morality_ in 1964, he added another very important feather to his cap as a moral philosopher. It is good to have it in print again. This book should live through the centuries. _Reviewed by Bettina Bien Greaves / Philosophy (398 pages, indexed) / BFL Price $3.50_