more from W. David Ross

Single Idea 5922

[catalogued under 22. Metaethics / B. Value / 1. Nature of Value / e. Means and ends]

Full Idea

If a thing is only instrumentally good or bad, then even when its nature remains the same it might have a different instrumental value if the causal laws of the universe, or of other things in the universe, were different.

Clarification

Things are 'instrumentally' good if they serve a good end, rather than being good in themselves

Gist of Idea

An instrumentally good thing might stay the same, but change its value because of circumstances

Source

W. David Ross (The Right and the Good [1930], §IV)

Book Reference

Ross,W.David: 'The Right and the Good' [OUP 1930], p.108


A Reaction

A bad tin-opener might be instrumentally good if it was the only one you owned, so we don't need to change the causal laws of the universe.