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Full Idea
There is a sense in which morality is inescapable - in moral epithets such as 'dishonest', 'unjust', 'uncharitable'; these do not cease to apply to a man because he is indifferent to the ends of morality: they may indeed apply because of his indifference.
Gist of Idea
Morality is inescapable, in descriptive words such as 'dishonest', 'unjust' and 'uncharitable'
Source
Philippa Foot (Morality as system of hypothetical imperatives [1972], p.172 n15)
Book Ref
Foot,Philippa: 'Virtues and Vices' [Blackwell 1981], p.172
A Reaction
Odysseus was admired for lying, and charity wasn't a virtue in the ancient world. They won't go away as factual descriptions, but the values attached to them vary quite a lot.
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] |