Combining Philosophers

Ideas for Henry of Ghent, Plato and Kretzmann/Stump

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9 ideas

22. Metaethics / A. Ethics Foundations / 1. Nature of Ethics / a. Preconditions for ethics
168 To understand morality requires a soul [Plato]
     Full Idea: Good and evil are meaningless to things that have no soul.
     From: Plato (Letter Seven [c.352 BCE], 334)
     A reaction: That is presumably psuché, and hence includes plants. Soulless things can still function well, but obviously that is not 'meaningful' to them.
22. Metaethics / A. Ethics Foundations / 1. Nature of Ethics / b. Defining ethics
2141 I suggest that we forget about trying to define goodness itself for the time being [Plato]
     Full Idea: I suggest that we forget about trying to define goodness itself for the time being.
     From: Plato (The Republic [c.374 BCE], 506e)
     A reaction: This was a source of some humour in the ancient world (in the theatre). Goodness is like some distant glow, which can never be approached in order to learn of its source.
22. Metaethics / A. Ethics Foundations / 1. Nature of Ethics / d. Ethical theory
302 What knowledge is required to live well? [Plato]
     Full Idea: What knowledge would enable us to live finely for the rest of our lives?
     From: Plato (Euthydemus [c.379 BCE], 293a)
     A reaction: A successful grasp of other people's points of view might lead to respect for them. Also a realisation that we are not isolated individuals. We really are all in it together.
22. Metaethics / A. Ethics Foundations / 2. Source of Ethics / a. Idealistic ethics
1869 The good cannot be expressed in words, but imprints itself upon the soul [Plato, by Celsus]
     Full Idea: Plato points to the truth about the highest good when he says that it cannot be expressed in words, but rather comes from familiarity - like a flash from the blue, imprinting itself upon the soul.
     From: report of Plato (The Republic [c.374 BCE]) by Celsus - On the True Doctrine (Against Christians) VII
     A reaction: It is reasonable to be drawn to something inexpressible, such as an appealing piece of music, but not good philosophy to build a system around something so obscure.
22. Metaethics / A. Ethics Foundations / 2. Source of Ethics / c. Ethical intuitionism
7503 Plato never refers to examining the conscience [Plato, by Foucault]
     Full Idea: Plato never speaks of the examination of conscience - never!
     From: report of Plato (works [c.375 BCE]) by Michel Foucault - On the Genealogy of Ethics p.276
     A reaction: Plato does imply some sort of self-evident direct knowledge about that nature of a healthy soul. Presumably the full-blown concept of conscience is something given from outside, from God. In 'Euthyphro', Plato asserts the primacy of morality (Idea 337).
22. Metaethics / A. Ethics Foundations / 2. Source of Ethics / e. Human nature
143 The two ruling human principles are the natural desire for pleasure, and an acquired love of virtue [Plato]
     Full Idea: In each one of us there are two ruling and impelling principles: a desire for pleasure, which is innate, and an acquired conviction which causes us to aim at excellence.
     From: Plato (Phaedrus [c.366 BCE], 237d)
     A reaction: This division is too neat and simple. An obsession with pleasure I would take to be acquired. If you set out to do something, I think there is an innate desire to do it well.
22. Metaethics / A. Ethics Foundations / 2. Source of Ethics / f. Übermensch
4115 Plato found that he could only enforce rational moral justification by creating an authoritarian society [Williams,B on Plato]
     Full Idea: For Plato, the problem of making the ethical into a force was the problem of making society embody rational justification, and that problem could only have an authoritarian solution.
     From: comment on Plato (The Republic [c.374 BCE]) by Bernard Williams - Ethics and the Limits of Philosophy Ch. 2
     A reaction: Plato's citizens were largely illiterate. We can be more carrot and less stick.
22. Metaethics / A. Ethics Foundations / 2. Source of Ethics / g. Will to power
122 Moral rules are made by the weak members of humanity [Plato]
     Full Idea: Callicles: It's the weaklings who constitute the majority of the human race who make the rules.
     From: Plato (Gorgias [c.387 BCE], 483b)
     A reaction: An aristocrat bemoans democracy. Presumably the qualification for being a 'weakling' is shortage of money. How strong are the scions of the aristocrats?
22. Metaethics / A. Ethics Foundations / 2. Source of Ethics / j. Ethics by convention
2173 As religion and convention collapsed, Plato sought morals not just in knowledge, but in the soul [Williams,B on Plato]
     Full Idea: Once gods and fate and social expectation were no longer there, Plato felt it necessary to discover ethics inside human nature, not just as ethical knowledge (Socrates' view), but in the structure of the soul.
     From: comment on Plato (works [c.375 BCE]) by Bernard Williams - Shame and Necessity II - p.43
     A reaction: anti Charles Taylor