It is the study of human action as productive, or non-productive, of some certain general good.

But here comes the point at issue--What is this general good, and what is included by it?
The positive school contend that it is general happiness; and there, they say, is the answer to the great question--What is the test of conduct, and the true end of life?
But though, as we shall see in another moment, there is some plausibility in this, there is really nothing in it of the special answer we want.

Our question is, What is the true happiness?
And what is the answer thus far ?--That the true happiness is general happiness; that it is the happiness of men in societies; that it is happiness equally distributed.
But this avails us nothing.

The coveted _happiness_ is still a locked casket.

We know nothing as yet of its contents.