Single Idea 4377

[catalogued under 20. Action / C. Motives for Action / 3. Acting on Reason / b. Intellectualism]

Full Idea

Intellectualism, a one-sided preoccupation with reason and reasoning, is a perennial failing in moral philosophy.

Gist of Idea

Intellectualism is an excessive emphasis on reasoning in moral philosophy

Source

Myles F. Burnyeat (Aristotle on Learning to be Good [1980], p.70)

Book Reference

'Essays on Aristotle's Ethics', ed/tr. Rorty,Amélie Oksenberg [University of California 1980], p.70


A Reaction

But Kant's reply would be that while there is much more to moral behaviour, the only part which matters in morality is the reasoning part. And Socrates' view (ignorance is evil) is not obviously wrong.