Single Idea 2712

[catalogued under 22. Metaethics / A. Ethics Foundations / 2. Source of Ethics / c. Ethical intuitionism]

Full Idea

If it comes to deciding what intuitions and dispositions to cultivate, we cannot rely on the intuitions themselves, as intuitionists do.

Gist of Idea

You can't use intuitions to decide which intuitions you should cultivate

Source

Richard M. Hare (Universal Prescriptivism [1991], p.461)

Book Reference

'A Companion to Ethics', ed/tr. Singer,Peter [Blackwell 1993], p.461


A Reaction

Makes intuitionists sound a bit dim. Surely Hume identifies dispositions (such as benevolence) which should be cultivated, because they self-evidently improve social life?