Single Idea 6450

[catalogued under 22. Metaethics / A. Ethics Foundations / 1. Nature of Ethics / a. Preconditions for ethics]

Full Idea

My own view is that moral justification must be capable of motivating, but not in virtue of reliance on pre-moral motives.

Gist of Idea

Morality must be motivating, and not because of pre-moral motives

Source

Thomas Nagel (Equality and Partiality [1991], Ch.5)

Book Reference

Nagel,Thomas: 'Equality and Partiality' [OUP 1995], p.45


A Reaction

This may well be the core and essence of Kantian moral theory. I'm inclined to think of it as 'Kant's dream', which is of ultra-rational beings who are driven by pure rationality as a motivator. People who fit this bill tend to be academics.