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Full Idea
Kant and Mill were in total agreement in trying to give content to the distinction between moral right and wrong, without recourse to any divine lawgiver.
Gist of Idea
Kant and Mill both try to explain right and wrong, without a divine lawgiver
Source
Richard Taylor (Virtue Ethics: an Introduction [2002], Ch.14)
Book Ref
Taylor,Richard: 'Virtue Ethics: an Introduction' [Prometheus 2002], p.90
A Reaction
A nice analysis, in tune with MacIntyre and others, who see such attempts as failures. It is hard, however, to deny the claims of rational principles, or of suffering, in our moral framework. I agree with Taylor's move back to virtue, but it ain't simple.
5076 | To Greeks it seemed obvious that the virtue of anything is the perfection of its function [Taylor,R] |
5077 | The modern idea of obligation seems to have lost the idea of an obligation 'to' something [Taylor,R] |
5078 | Kant and Mill both try to explain right and wrong, without a divine lawgiver [Taylor,R] |
5079 | Pleasure can have a location, and be momentary, and come and go - but happiness can't [Taylor,R] |
5067 | Morality based on 'forbid', 'permit' and 'require' implies someone who does these things [Taylor,R] |
5066 | If we are made in God's image, pursuit of excellence is replaced by duty to obey God [Taylor,R] |
5065 | The ethics of duty requires a religious framework [Taylor,R] |
5068 | 'Eudaimonia' means 'having a good demon', implying supreme good fortune [Taylor,R] |