more on this theme
|
more from this thinker
Single Idea 8038
[filed under theme 23. Ethics / E. Utilitarianism / 1. Utilitarianism
]
Full Idea
Moore takes it that to call an action right is simply to say that of the available alternative actions it is the one which does or did as a matter of fact produce the most good. Moore is thus a utilitarian.
Gist of Idea
Since Moore thinks the right action produces the most good, he is a utilitarian
Source
Alasdair MacIntyre (After Virtue: a Study in Moral Theory [1981], Ch. 2)
Book Ref
MacIntyre,Alasdair: 'After Virtue: a Study in Moral Theory' [Duckworth 1982], p.14
A Reaction
Far be it from me to disagree with MacIntyre on this, but I would have thought that this made him a consequentialist, rather than a utilitarian. Moore doesn't remotely think that pure pleasure or happiness is the good. He's closer to Rashdall (Idea 6673).
Related Idea
Idea 6673
Ideal Utilitarianism is teleological but non-hedonistic; the aim is an ideal end, which includes pleasure [Rashdall]
The
27 ideas
from 'After Virtue: a Study in Moral Theory'
|
7097
|
Virtue is secondary to a role-figure, defined within a culture
[MacIntyre, by Statman]
|
|
8034
|
We still have the appearance and language of morality, but we no longer understand it
[MacIntyre]
|
|
8036
|
Unlike expressions of personal preference, evaluative expressions do not depend on context
[MacIntyre]
|
|
8035
|
In trying to explain the type of approval involved, emotivists are either silent, or viciously circular
[MacIntyre]
|
|
8037
|
The expression of feeling in a sentence is in its use, not in its meaning
[MacIntyre]
|
|
8040
|
Emotivism cannot explain the logical terms in moral discourse ('therefore', 'if..then')
[MacIntyre]
|
|
8042
|
Nowadays most people are emotivists, and it is embodied in our culture
[MacIntyre]
|
|
8038
|
Since Moore thinks the right action produces the most good, he is a utilitarian
[MacIntyre]
|
|
8043
|
Characters are the masks worn by moral philosophies
[MacIntyre]
|
|
8045
|
The failure of Enlightenment attempts to justify morality will explain our own culture
[MacIntyre]
|
|
8047
|
Philosophy has been marginalised by its failure in the Enlightenment to replace religion
[MacIntyre]
|
|
8049
|
Moral judgements now are anachronisms from a theistic age
[MacIntyre]
|
|
8048
|
When 'man' is thought of individually, apart from all roles, it ceases to be a functional concept
[MacIntyre]
|
|
8050
|
There are no natural or human rights, and belief in them is nonsense
[MacIntyre]
|
|
8051
|
Mention of 'intuition' in morality means something has gone wrong with the argument
[MacIntyre]
|
|
8052
|
To find empiricism and science in the same culture is surprising, as they are really incompatible
[MacIntyre]
|
|
8057
|
Unpredictability doesn't entail inexplicability, and predictability doesn't entail explicability
[MacIntyre]
|
|
8054
|
Social sciences discover no law-like generalisations, and tend to ignore counterexamples
[MacIntyre]
|
|
8053
|
Twentieth century social life is re-enacting eighteenth century philosophy
[MacIntyre]
|
|
8056
|
AI can't predict innovation, or consequences, or external relations, or external events
[MacIntyre]
|
|
8055
|
If God is omniscient, he confronts no as yet unmade decisions, so decisions are impossible
[MacIntyre]
|
|
8058
|
Maybe we can only understand rules if we first understand the virtues
[MacIntyre]
|
|
8059
|
The good life for man is the life spent seeking the good life for man
[MacIntyre]
|
|
8060
|
In the 17th-18th centuries morality offered a cure for egoism, through altruism
[MacIntyre]
|
|
8061
|
If morality just is emotion, there are no external criteria for judging emotions
[MacIntyre]
|
|
8062
|
Proof is a barren idea in philosophy, and the best philosophy never involves proof
[MacIntyre]
|
|
21050
|
I can only make decisions if I see myself as part of a story
[MacIntyre]
|