Single Idea 20134

[catalogued under 23. Ethics / C. Virtue Theory / 1. Virtue Theory / c. Particularism]

Full Idea

All moralities are baroque and unreasonable ...because they address themselves to 'all', because they generalise where one must not generalise.

Gist of Idea

Moralities extravagantly address themselves to 'all', by falsely generalising

Source

Friedrich Nietzsche (Beyond Good and Evil [1886], §198)

Book Reference

Nietzsche,Friedrich: 'Beyond Good and Evil', ed/tr. Hollingdale,R.J. [Penguin 1973], p.101


A Reaction

'Particularism' is a recent label, but one finds passing remarks from many earlier philosophers which support that approach to ethics. No one was ever more opposed to strict moral rules than Nietzsche.