Single Idea 2865

[catalogued under 22. Metaethics / A. Ethics Foundations / 2. Source of Ethics / i. Prescriptivism]

Full Idea

Critics of prescriptivism have noted the problem that whilst accepting a command seems tantamount to setting oneself to obey it, accepting an ethical verdict is, unfortunately, consistent with refusing to be bound by it.

Gist of Idea

Critics of prescriptivism observe that it is consistent to accept an ethical verdict but refuse to be bound by it

Source

Simon Blackburn (Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy [1994], p.300)

Book Reference

Blackburn,Simon: 'Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy' [OUP 1996], p.300


A Reaction

We nearly all of us accept that our behaviour should be better than it actually is, so we accept the oughts but fail to act. Actually 'refusing', though, sounds a bit contradictory.