Combining Philosophers

Ideas for Anaxarchus, Roger Scruton and Joan Kung

unexpand these ideas     |    start again     |     choose another area for these philosophers

display all the ideas for this combination of philosophers


4 ideas

23. Ethics / D. Deontological Ethics / 2. Duty
That which can only be done by a callous person, ought not to be done [Scruton]
     Full Idea: That which can only be done by a callous person, ought not to be done.
     From: Roger Scruton (Animal Rights and Wrongs [1996], p.86)
     A reaction: The problem cases all arise in wartime. Ideally we want to show sympathy even when being necessarily ruthless, but in practice we send the callous ones to do the horrible deed.
Membership is the greatest source of obligation [Scruton]
     Full Idea: Membership is the greatest source of obligation.
     From: Roger Scruton (Modern Philosophy:introduction and survey [1994], 11.2)
     A reaction: An interesting and rather Aristotelian idea. The alternative is individual debt or obligation.
23. Ethics / D. Deontological Ethics / 3. Universalisability
As soon as we drop self-interest and judge impartially, we find ourselves agreeing about conflicts [Scruton]
     Full Idea: As soon as we set our own interests aside and look on human relations with the eye of the impartial judge, we find ourselves agreeing over the rights and wrongs of any conflict.
     From: Roger Scruton (Animal Rights and Wrongs [1996], p.59)
     A reaction: A nice, and fairly plausible, defence of Kantian ethics. Maybe the UN should actually settle all disputes, instead of just peace-keeping. The idea merely describes the function of the law, and especially an independent judiciary.
23. Ethics / D. Deontological Ethics / 4. Categorical Imperative
The categorical imperative is not just individual, but can be used for negotiations between strangers [Scruton]
     Full Idea: The categorical imperative is also an instrument of negotiation and compromise between strangers, through which they can rise out of enmity and confront each other as equals.
     From: Roger Scruton (Modern Philosophy:introduction and survey [1994], 20.6)