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Single Idea 8069

[filed under theme 23. Ethics / D. Deontological Ethics / 1. Deontology ]

Full Idea

Between Aristotle and us came Christianity, with its law conception of ethics, and Christianity derived its ethical notions from the Torah.

Gist of Idea

Between Aristotle and us, a Judaeo-Christian legal conception of ethics was developed

Source

G.E.M. Anscombe (Modern Moral Philosophy [1958], p.179)

Book Ref

'The Is/Ought Question', ed/tr. Hudson,W.H. [Macmillan 1969], p.179


A Reaction

While I am a fan of the primacy of the virtues in ethical thinking, I am doubtful about the complete elimination of laws (e.g. by Particularists). The law teaches us the virtues, and reminds us of them (like speed-limit signs).


The 11 ideas from G.E.M. Anscombe

With diseases we easily trace a cause from an effect, but we cannot predict effects [Anscombe]
Since Mill causation has usually been explained by necessary and sufficient conditions [Anscombe]
Freedom involves acting according to an idea [Anscombe]
To believe in determinism, one must believe in a system which determines events [Anscombe]
Causation is relative to how we describe the primary relata [Anscombe, by Schaffer,J]
The word 'cause' is an abstraction from a group of causal terms in a language (scrape, push..) [Anscombe]
Intentional actions are those which are explained by giving the reason for so acting [Anscombe]
The qualities involved in sensations are entirely intentional [Anscombe, by Armstrong]
'Ought' and 'right' are survivals from earlier ethics, and should be jettisoned [Anscombe]
Between Aristotle and us, a Judaeo-Christian legal conception of ethics was developed [Anscombe]
It would be better to point to failings of character, than to moral wrongness of actions [Anscombe]