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Single Idea 2141

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

Full Idea

I suggest that we forget about trying to define goodness itself for the time being.

Gist of Idea

I suggest that we forget about trying to define goodness itself for the time being

Source

Plato (The Republic [c.374 BCE], 506e)

Book Ref

Plato: 'Republic', ed/tr. Waterfield,Robin [OUP 1993], p.233

A Reaction

This was a source of some humour in the ancient world (in the theatre). Goodness is like some distant glow, which can never be approached in order to learn of its source.

The 15 ideas with the same theme [can we specify exactly what ethics is?]:

2141 I suggest that we forget about trying to define goodness itself for the time being [Plato]
19582 Morality and philosophy are mutually dependent [Novalis]
14784 Ethics is the science of aims [Peirce]
7136 Morality is a system of values which accompanies a being's life [Nietzsche]
8039 Moore tries to show that 'good' is indefinable, but doesn't understand what a definition is [MacIntyre on Moore,GE]
2943 Ethics cannot be put into words [Wittgenstein]
6968 Some people think there are ethical facts, but of a 'queer' sort [Ayer]
6972 A right attitude is just an attitude one is prepared to stand by [Ayer]
22445 Morality shows murder is wrong, but not what counts as a murder [Foot]
7419 Ethics is the conscious practice of freedom [Foucault]
5319 Avoid punishment, then get rewards, avoid rejection, avoid guilt, accept contracts, follow conscience [Kohlberg, by Wilson,EO]
4003 Selfhood and moral values are inextricably intertwined [Taylor,C]
20289 Ethics is universalisable - it must involve an impartial and universal view of things [Singer]
18665 Moral problems are responsibility conflicts, needing contextual and narrative attention to relationships [Gilligan]
21788 The moral will is self-determining, but the ethical will is met in society [Houlgate]