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Single Idea 4286
[filed under theme 23. Ethics / C. Virtue Theory / 3. Virtues / c. Justice
]
Full Idea
Only just people will act on the impartial verdict when their own interests conflict with it.
Gist of Idea
Only just people will drop their own self-interests when faced with an impartial verdict
Source
Roger Scruton (Animal Rights and Wrongs [1996], p.61)
Book Ref
Scruton,Roger: 'Animal Rights and Wrongs' [Demos 1996], p.61
A Reaction
The Kantian account of the virtues. Virtues are seen in the acceptance of a range of obvious human duties. Very helpful point if one is aiming for one unified theory of morality.
The
33 ideas
from 'Animal Rights and Wrongs'
4295
|
We favour our own animals over foreign ones because we see them as fellow citizens
[Scruton]
|
4296
|
Brutal animal sports are banned because they harm the personality of the watcher
[Scruton]
|
4263
|
Many of the stranger forms of life (e.g. worms) interest us only as a species, not as individuals
[Scruton]
|
4264
|
Perception (which involves an assessment) is a higher state than sensation
[Scruton]
|
4266
|
Having beliefs involves recognition, expectation and surprise
[Scruton]
|
4265
|
If an animal has beliefs, that implies not only that it can make mistakes, but that it can learn from them
[Scruton]
|
4267
|
Conditioning may change behaviour without changing the mind
[Scruton]
|
4268
|
Animals command our sympathy and moral concern initially because of their intentionality
[Scruton]
|
4269
|
An emotion is a motive which is also a feeling
[Scruton]
|
4270
|
Do we use reason to distinguish people from animals, or use that difference to define reason?
[Scruton]
|
4271
|
There is consciousness whenever behaviour must be explained in terms of mental activity
[Scruton]
|
4272
|
Our concept of a person is derived from Roman law
[Scruton]
|
4273
|
Kant's Moral Law is the rules rational beings would accept when trying to live by agreement
[Scruton]
|
4274
|
The modern virtues are courage, prudence, wisdom, temperance, justice, charity and loyalty
[Scruton]
|
4276
|
An animal has individuality if it is nameable, and advanced animals can respond to their name
[Scruton]
|
4277
|
I may avoid stepping on a spider or flower, but fellow-feeling makes me protect a rabbit
[Scruton]
|
4278
|
Lucky animals are eaten by large predators, the less lucky starve, and worst is death by small predators
[Scruton]
|
4279
|
We can easily remove the risk of suffering from an animal's life, but we shouldn't do it
[Scruton]
|
4280
|
Utilitarianism is wrong precisely because it can't distinguish animals from people
[Scruton]
|
4281
|
Utilitarianism says we can't blame Stalin yet, but such a theory is a sick joke
[Scruton]
|
4282
|
Morality is not a sort of calculation, it is what sets the limits to when calculation is appropriate
[Scruton]
|
4283
|
Sympathy can undermine the moral order just as much as crime does
[Scruton]
|
4284
|
All moral life depends ultimately on piety, which is our recognition of our own dependence
[Scruton]
|
4285
|
As soon as we drop self-interest and judge impartially, we find ourselves agreeing about conflicts
[Scruton]
|
4286
|
Only just people will drop their own self-interests when faced with an impartial verdict
[Scruton]
|
4287
|
Utilitarianism merely guides us (by means of sympathy) when the moral law is silent
[Scruton]
|
4288
|
Many breeds of animals have needs which our own ancestors planted in them
[Scruton]
|
4289
|
Sheep and cattle live comfortable lives, and die an enviably easy death
[Scruton]
|
4290
|
That which can only be done by a callous person, ought not to be done
[Scruton]
|
4291
|
Letting your dog kill wild rats, and keeping rats for your dog to kill, are very different
[Scruton]
|
4292
|
Concern for one animal may harm the species, if the individual is part of a bigger problem
[Scruton]
|
4293
|
Introducing a natural means of controlling animal population may not be very compassionate
[Scruton]
|
4294
|
Animals are outside the community of rights, but we still have duties towards them
[Scruton]
|