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Full Idea
Moral judgements have no better claim to be categorical imperatives than do statements about matters of etiquette.
Gist of Idea
Morality no more consists of categorical imperatives than etiquette does
Source
Philippa Foot (Morality as system of hypothetical imperatives [1972], p.164)
Book Ref
Foot,Philippa: 'Virtues and Vices' [Blackwell 1981], p.164
A Reaction
Her claim is that all moral judgements are responses to situations, and so are hypothetical. This judgement of hers is the culmination of a careful discussion.
Related Ideas
Idea 22390 Kant thought human nature was pure hedonism, so virtue is only possible via the categorical imperative [Foot on Kant]
Idea 22395 Moral judgements are hypothetical, because they depend on interests and desires [Foot]
| 23685 | Reason is not a motivator of morality [Foot, by Hacker-Wright] |
| 23691 | Rejecting moral rules may be villainous, but it isn't inconsistent [Foot] |
| 22389 | Morality no more consists of categorical imperatives than etiquette does [Foot] |
| 22391 | Saying we 'ought to be moral' makes no sense, unless it relates to some other system [Foot] |
| 22392 | Morality is inescapable, in descriptive words such as 'dishonest', 'unjust' and 'uncharitable' [Foot] |