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Single Idea 20286

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

Full Idea

When following conscience means doing as one's 'internal voice' prompts one to do, to follow one's conscience it so abdicate one's responsibility as a rational agent.

Gist of Idea

Following an inner voice for morality is irresponsible in a rational agent

Source

Peter Singer (Practical Ethics [1979], 09)

Book Ref

Singer,Peter: 'Practical Ethics' [CUP 1989], p.185

A Reaction

Seems dead right. An inner voice is far more likely to be your culture and upbringing than to be an absolute moral truth. It may not be entirely wrong, though, to behave as your culture requires.

The 14 ideas from 'Practical Ethics'

20276 Conflict of rules might be avoided by greater complexity, or by a hierarchy of rules [Singer]
20278 'Marginal utility' says something is more useful if it is in short supply [Singer]
20277 Equality of interests is a minimal principle, not implying equal treatment [Singer]
20279 Equality of opportunity unfairly rewards those lucky enough to have great ability [Singer]
20281 Why should I do anything for posterity? What has posterity ever done for me? [Singer]
20282 The sanctity of a human life depends either on being of our species, or on being a person [Singer]
20283 Killing a chimp is worse than killing a human too defective to be a person [Singer]
20284 Why should a potential person have the rights of an actual person? [Singer]
20285 If a right entails having the relevant desire, many creatures might have no right to life [Singer]
20286 Following an inner voice for morality is irresponsible in a rational agent [Singer]
20288 You can't condemn violent revolution without assessing the evils it prevents [Singer]
20287 If 49% of the population can be wrong, so can 51% [Singer]
20290 Psychopaths may just be bored, because they cannot participate in normal emotional life [Singer]
20289 Ethics is universalisable - it must involve an impartial and universal view of things [Singer]