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Single Idea 9250

[filed under theme 22. Metaethics / A. Ethics Foundations / 1. Nature of Ethics / d. Ethical theory ]

Full Idea

There can be no question of holding forth on ethics. I have seen people behave badly with great morality and I note every day that integrity has no need of rules.

Gist of Idea

Discussing ethics is pointless; moral people behave badly, and integrity doesn't need rules

Source

Albert Camus (The Myth of Sisyphus [1942], 'Abs Man')

Book Ref

Camus,Albert: 'The Myth of Sisyphus', ed/tr. O'Brien,Justin [Penguin 1975], p.64

A Reaction

I don't agree. If someone 'behaves badly with great morality' there is something wrong with their morality, and I want to know what it is. The last part is more plausible, and could be a motto for Particularism. Rules dangerously over-simplify life.

The 14 ideas from Albert Camus

9244 Logic is easy, but what about logic to the point of death? [Camus]
9243 If we believe existence is absurd, this should dictate our conduct [Camus]
9242 Essential problems either risk death, or intensify the passion of life [Camus]
9248 It is essential to die unreconciled and not of one's own free will [Camus]
9249 Whether we are free is uninteresting; we can only experience our freedom [Camus]
9247 Life will be lived better if it has no meaning [Camus]
9250 Discussing ethics is pointless; moral people behave badly, and integrity doesn't need rules [Camus]
9251 One can be virtuous through a whim [Camus]
9253 The human heart has a tiresome tendency to label as fate only what crushes it [Camus]
9252 The more one loves the stronger the absurd grows [Camus]
6707 Suicide - whether life is worth living - is the one serious philosophical problem [Camus]
6708 Happiness and the absurd go together, each leading to the other [Camus]
9245 To an absurd mind reason is useless, and there is nothing beyond reason [Camus]
9246 Danger and integrity are not in the leap of faith, but in remaining poised just before the leap [Camus]