Single Idea 12541

[catalogued under 22. Metaethics / A. Ethics Foundations / 2. Source of Ethics / b. Rational ethics]

Full Idea

Morality is capable of demonstration as well as mathematics, since the precise real essence of the things moral words stand for may be perfectly known, and so the congruity or incongruity of the things themselves be certainly discovered.

Gist of Idea

Morality can be demonstrated, because we know the real essences behind moral words

Source

John Locke (Essay Conc Human Understanding (2nd Ed) [1694], 3.11.16)

Book Reference

Locke,John: 'Essay Concerning Human Understanding', ed/tr. Nidditch,P.H. [OUP 1979], p.516


A Reaction

This is a rare case of Locke saying that we can know real essences (he apparently having said the same about triangles). I increasingly like the notion that real essences lead to true knowledge in every sphere of our activities, including the moral.