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Full Idea
That duties are created irrespective of facts about character is obvious from the case of promises, which bind their makers irrespective of their motives or personality.
Gist of Idea
Promises create moral duties that have nothing to do with character
Source
Daniel Statman (Introduction to Virtue Ethics [1997], §5)
Book Ref
'Virtue Ethics', ed/tr. Statman,Daniel [Edinburgh 1997], p.22
A Reaction
Just occasionally a promise can be broken, by a sensitive and wise person. I promise to give your son some money; I then discover he is a drug dealer. Promises arise out of character, and cannot be made by robots.
| 7093 | Behaviour may be disgusting or inhumane, but violate no duty [Statman] |
| 7095 | Moral education is better by concrete example than abstract principle [Statman] |
| 7094 | Friends express friendship even when no utility is involved [Statman] |
| 7096 | We may still admire a person's character even if the traits are involuntary [Statman] |
| 7098 | There is a new sort of moral scepticism, about the possibility of moral theories [Statman] |
| 7099 | With a broad concept of flourishing, it might be possible without the virtues [Statman] |
| 7100 | Virtue theory isn't a genuine ethical theory, because it doesn't have universal application [Statman] |
| 7102 | Promises create moral duties that have nothing to do with character [Statman] |
| 7103 | Abortion issues focus on the mother's right over her body, and the status of the foetus [Statman] |
| 7104 | The ancients recognised imperfect duties, but we have added perfect duties like justice [Statman] |