more on this theme     |     more from this text

Single Idea 20289

[filed under theme 22. Metaethics / A. Ethics Foundations / 1. Nature of Ethics / b. Defining ethics ]

Full Idea

A distinguishng feature of ethics is that ethical judgements are universalisable. Ethics requires us to go beyond our own personal point of view to a standpoint like that of the impartial spectator who takes a universal point of view.

Gist of Idea

Ethics is universalisable - it must involve an impartial and universal view of things

Source

Peter Singer (Practical Ethics [1979], 10)

Book Ref

Singer,Peter: 'Practical Ethics' [CUP 1989], p.204

A Reaction

I'm thinking that ethical agents are more 'situated' than that. Suppose a finance minister stole billions in tax and gave it to a poor country. Good from the universal angle, perhaps, but a shocking betrayal of his own community.

The 16 ideas from Peter Singer

21993 Materialist history says we are subject to incomprehensible forces [Singer]
21997 In Marxism the state will be superseded [Singer]
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]
20287 If 49% of the population can be wrong, so can 51% [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]
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]