Single Idea 5077

[catalogued under 23. Ethics / D. Deontological Ethics / 1. Deontology]

Full Idea

In modern moral thinking, obligation is something every responsible person is supposed to have, but it is not an obligation to the state, or society, or humanity, or even to God. It is an obligation standing by itself.

Gist of Idea

The modern idea of obligation seems to have lost the idea of an obligation 'to' something

Source

Richard Taylor (Virtue Ethics: an Introduction [2002], Ch.12)

Book Reference

Taylor,Richard: 'Virtue Ethics: an Introduction' [Prometheus 2002], p.83


A Reaction

This nicely pinpoints how some our moral attitudes are relics of religion. Taylor wants a return to virtue, but one could respond by opting for the social contract (with very clear obligations) or Kantian 'contractualism' (answering to rational beings).