more on this theme     |     more from this text

Single Idea 20276

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

Full Idea

Those who think ethics is a system of rules can rescue their position by finding more complicated and more specific rules which do not conflict, or by ranking the rules in some hierarchical structure to resolve conflicts.

Gist of Idea

Conflict of rules might be avoided by greater complexity, or by a hierarchy of rules

Source

Peter Singer (Practical Ethics [1979], 01)

Book Ref

Singer,Peter: 'Practical Ethics' [CUP 1989], p.3

A Reaction

The problem is that clear-cut rules seem to produce conflicts. I would have thought that more specific rules would increase that problem. Safety is in generality.

The 16 ideas from Peter Singer

21993 Materialist history says we are subject to incomprehensible forces [Singer]
21997 In Marxism the state will be superseded [Singer]
20276 Conflict of rules might be avoided by greater complexity, or by a hierarchy of rules [Singer]
20278 'Marginal utility' says something is more useful if it is in short supply [Singer]
20279 Equality of opportunity unfairly rewards those lucky enough to have great ability [Singer]
20277 Equality of interests is a minimal principle, not implying equal treatment [Singer]
20281 Why should I do anything for posterity? What has posterity ever done for me? [Singer]
20282 The sanctity of a human life depends either on being of our species, or on being a person [Singer]
20283 Killing a chimp is worse than killing a human too defective to be a person [Singer]
20284 Why should a potential person have the rights of an actual person? [Singer]
20285 If a right entails having the relevant desire, many creatures might have no right to life [Singer]
20287 If 49% of the population can be wrong, so can 51% [Singer]
20288 You can't condemn violent revolution without assessing the evils it prevents [Singer]
20286 Following an inner voice for morality is irresponsible in a rational agent [Singer]
20290 Psychopaths may just be bored, because they cannot participate in normal emotional life [Singer]
20289 Ethics is universalisable - it must involve an impartial and universal view of things [Singer]