Single Idea 7093

[catalogued under 23. Ethics / D. Deontological Ethics / 2. Duty]

Full Idea

It is surely possible, and indeed often the case, that people who violate no duty nevertheless behave in an inhumane and a disgusting manner.

Gist of Idea

Behaviour may be disgusting or inhumane, but violate no duty

Source

Daniel Statman (Introduction to Virtue Ethics [1997], §1)

Book Reference

'Virtue Ethics', ed/tr. Statman,Daniel [Edinburgh 1997], p.7


A Reaction

This seems right, though it is easier to be disgusting than to be inhumane if no duty is to be violated. Social duties may not require a high degree of humanity, pure Kantian duties might.