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Full Idea
A sentence like 'You ought to do so-and-so' primarily has an emotional content. It means ' this is the act towards which I feel the emotion of approval'.
Gist of Idea
'You ought to do p' primarily has emotional content, expressing approval
Source
Bertrand Russell (An Outline of Philosophy [1927], Ch 22)
Book Ref
Russell,Bertrand: 'An Outline of Philosophy' [Routledge 1979], p.181
A Reaction
I don't understand how I can say 'you ought to do p', and very clearly mean that the situation would be altogether better if p, only to be told by some philosopher that what I thought was a sensible judgement is actually an emotional outburst.
| 22891 | We could be aware of time if senses briefly vibrated, extending their experience of movement [Russell, by Bardon] |
| 21745 | Act so as to produce harmonious rather than discordant desires [Russell] |
| 21741 | 'You ought to do p' primarily has emotional content, expressing approval [Russell] |
| 21746 | Unlike hate, all desires can be satisfied by love [Russell] |
| 21747 | Goodness is a combination of love and knowledge [Russell] |
| 21743 | In wartime, happiness is hating the enemy, because it gives the war a purpose [Russell] |
| 21742 | Originally virtue was obedience, to gods, government, or custom [Russell] |
| 21744 | Legally curbing people's desires is inferior to improving their desires [Russell] |
| 21740 | I doubt whether ethics is part of philosophy [Russell] |