check my comprehension plz
 

Comprehension CE - 2000

The vitality of any teaching, or historical movement, depends upon what it affirms rather than upon what it affirms rather than upon what it denies, and its survival and continued power will often mean that its positives are insufficiently regarded by opposing schools. The grand positives of Bentham were benevolence and veracity: the passion for the relief of man’s estate, and the passion for truth. Bent ham’s multifarious activities, pursued without abatement to the end of a long life, wee inspired by a "dominant and all-comprehensive desire for the amelioration of human life"; they wee inspired, too, by the belief that he had found the key to all moral truth. This institution, this custom, this code, this system of legislation-- does it promotes human happiness? Then it is sound. This theory, this creed, this moral teaching – does it rightly explain why virtue is admirable, or why duty is obligatory? The limitation of Bentham can be gauged by his dismissal of all poetry (and most religion) as "misrepresentation’; this is his negative side. But benevolence and veracity are Supreme Values, and if it falls to one of the deniers to be their special advocate, the believers must have long been drowsed. Bentham believes the Church teaches children insincerity by making them affirm what they cannot possibly understand or mean. They promise, for example, to fulfill the undertaking of their god---parents, that they will "renounce the devil and all his works, the pomps and vanity of this wicked world" etc. ‘The Devil" Bentham comments: " who or what is he, and how is it that he is renounced?" Has the child happened to have any dealings with him? Let the Archbishop of Canterbury tell us, and let him further explain how his own "works" are distinguished from the aforesaid "Pomps and Vanity". What king, what Lords Temporal or Spiritual, have ever renounced them? (Basil Willey)

(1) What does the writer mean by the following expressions:

Multifarious activities, amelioration of human Life, it is sound, be their special advocate, Renounce the devil, drowsed, gauged, aforesaid.

(2) What is Bentham’s philosophy based upon?

(3) What according to the writer is Bentham’s limitation?

(4) On what grounds does Bentham believe that the Church teaches children insincerity?

(5) In what context has the Archbishop of Canterbury been quoted i.e. is he praised or condemned?

ANSWER 01
a- Multifarious activities
variety of efforts
b- amelioration of human life
improvement in men's lives
c- it is sound
In passage, it implies that if legislation and values promote happiness then they are correct
d- be their special advocate
becoming proponent of. In passage, it means that if someone earlier denies kindness and truthfulness but then start favoring it
e- renounce the devil
refuse to follow devil
f- drowsed
dozed
g- gauged
to control
h- aforesaid
said earlier

ANSWER 02
Bentham's philosophy was the uplift or improvement of human lives. He based his theory upon the principles of truthfulness and kindness. He preferred human happiness in framing laws and customs.

ANSWER 03
Bentham despised the church and poetry. Writer of the passage considered it the weakness of Bentham's work.

ANSWER 04
According to Bentham, Church teaches insincerity because on the one hand, church condemns pomp and show and consider worldly life as futile, but on the other hand, adopts the same pomp. Church-men do not mean their words. Lives of bishops are filled with glory but they teach vanity. Moreover, Bishops announce not to follow devil but how can they do so? Did they meet with devil? Therefore, Church-men say what they don't do teaching contradictions.

ANSWER 05
Bentham condemned the Archbishop of Canterbury because questions were asked about the lifestyle and pomp of Bishop.

Please evaluate it. Positive criticism is always appreciated

good attempt