more from Richard M. Hare

Single Idea 2708

[catalogued under 22. Metaethics / A. Ethics Foundations / 2. Source of Ethics / i. Prescriptivism]

Full Idea

In any 'ought' statement there is implicit a principle which says that the statement applies to all precisely similar situations.

Gist of Idea

An 'ought' statement implies universal application

Source

Richard M. Hare (Universal Prescriptivism [1991], p.456)

Book Reference

'A Companion to Ethics', ed/tr. Singer,Peter [Blackwell 1993], p.456


A Reaction

No two situations can ever be 'precisely' similar. Indeed, 'precisely similar' may be an oxymoron (at least for situations). Kantians presumably like this idea.