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Single Idea 21749

[filed under theme 22. Metaethics / B. Value / 1. Nature of Value / a. Nature of value ]

Full Idea

Altruistic values attach to satisfactions of other persons, without regard to ulterior satisfactions accruing to oneself. Ceremonial values attach to practices of one's society, without regard to satisfactions accruing to oneself.

Gist of Idea

Altruistic values concern other persons, and ceremonial values concern practices

Source

Willard Quine (On the Nature of Moral Values [1978], p.58)

Book Ref

Quine,Willard: 'Theories and Things' [Harvard 1981], p.58

A Reaction

An interesting distinction, but probably as blurred and circular as (according to Quine) the analytic/synthetic distinction.

The 4 ideas from 'On the Nature of Moral Values'

21748 More careful inductions gradually lead to the hypothetico-deductive method [Quine]
21749 Altruistic values concern other persons, and ceremonial values concern practices [Quine]
21750 Science is sympathetic to truth as correspondence, since it depends on observation [Quine]
21751 Love seems to diminish with distance from oneself [Quine]