Single Idea 22475

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

Full Idea

Nietzsche believed that moral generalisation was impossible because the proper subject of evaluation was, instead, a person's individual act.

Gist of Idea

Moral generalisation is wrong, because we should evaluate individual acts

Source

report of Friedrich Nietzsche (Works (refs to 8 vol Colli and Montinari) [1885]) by Philippa Foot - Nietzsche's Immoralism p.155

Book Reference

Foot,Philippa: 'Moral Dilemmas' [OUP 2002], p.155


A Reaction

This suggests a different type of particularism, focusing on the particular decision, rather than on the details of the situation. Presumable no two moral decisions are ever sufficiently the same to be compared. But a lie is a lie.