Single Idea 22492

[catalogued under 22. Metaethics / A. Ethics Foundations / 2. Source of Ethics / k. Ethics from nature]

Full Idea

Virtues play a necessary part in the life of human beings as do stings in the life of a bee.

Gist of Idea

Virtues are as necessary to humans as stings are to bees

Source

Philippa Foot (Natural Goodness [2001], 2)

Book Reference

Foot,Philippa: 'Natural Goodness' [OUP 2003], p.35


A Reaction

This presumably rests on the Aristotelian idea that humans are essentially social (as opposed to solitary humans who choose to be social, perhaps in a contractual way, as Plato implies).