Combining Philosophers

Ideas for H.Putnam/P.Oppenheim, Ross P. Cameron and Jonathan Dancy

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5 ideas

22. Metaethics / A. Ethics Foundations / 2. Source of Ethics / c. Ethical intuitionism
If there are intuited moral facts, why should we care about them? [Dancy,J]
     Full Idea: Critics asked (of intuitionism) why, if moral facts are as the intuitionists say, we should care about them at all.
     From: Jonathan Dancy (Intuitionism [1991])
     A reaction: It is a good question, as we don't care much about other a priori truths, such as the square root of 169.
Internalists say that moral intuitions are motivating; externalist say a desire is also needed [Dancy,J]
     Full Idea: There is an internalist view of intuitionism, saying that to accept that one's action is wrong is itself to be motivated not to do it. Externalists (like Ross) say that moral judgements need the help of an independent desire to motivate us.
     From: Jonathan Dancy (Intuitionism [1991])
     A reaction: The internalists would be closer to Kant or Plato (for whom reason or pure ideas motivate), while externalist would favour Hume's belief/desire account of human actions. I like Kant and Plato, but Hume is more plausible. Dancy disagrees (Idea 7262).
Obviously judging an action as wrong gives us a reason not to do it [Dancy,J]
     Full Idea: It is ludicrous to say that we might accept an action is outrageously wrong and still think of this as not in itself giving us good reason to hold back.
     From: Jonathan Dancy (Intuitionism [1991])
     A reaction: If we think of some dreadful man-made famine in a remote continent, our judgement may well give a reason to act, but apathy usually intervenes. We are discussing a purely theoretical motive on the one hand, and an actual motivator on the other.
Moral facts are not perceived facts, but perceived reasons for judgements [Dancy,J]
     Full Idea: I intend to suggest that moral facts are best thought of not as facts perceived but as reasons recognised in the exercise of practical moral judgement.
     From: Jonathan Dancy (Intuitionism [1991])
     A reaction: I'm not convinced by this modified version. Why should the fact that someone is in pain be, in itself, a reason to prevent it? There are different cultural traditions for response to the pain of others. We are the squeamish tradition.
22. Metaethics / B. Value / 1. Nature of Value / a. Nature of value
The base for values has grounds, catalysts and intensifiers [Dancy,J, by Orsi]
     Full Idea: Dancy distinguishes three parts of the supervenience base of values: 1) those which ground the value ('resultance base'); 2) those which enable the ground to make something good ('enabling conditions'); 3) those which intensify or diminish value.
     From: report of Jonathan Dancy (Ethics without Principles [2004], p. 170-181) by Francesco Orsi - Value Theory 5.2
     A reaction: I really like and admire this. Dancy has focused on what really matters about values (and hence about the whole of ethics), and begun the work of getting a bit of clarity and increased understanding.