display all the ideas for this combination of texts
2 ideas
2943 | Ethics cannot be put into words [Wittgenstein] |
Full Idea: Ethics cannot be put into words. | |
From: Ludwig Wittgenstein (Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus [1921], 6.421) | |
A reaction: Nonsense. There is lots of good writing about ethics. This is evasive mysticism. |
9261 | The 'Ethics' is disappointing, because it fails to try to justify our duties [Prichard] |
Full Idea: Reading the 'Ethics' is so disappointing, because Aristotle does not try to convince us that we really ought to do what our non-reflective consciousness has hitherto believed we ought to do. | |
From: H.A. Prichard (Does moral phil rest on a mistake? [1912]) | |
A reaction: Aristotle didn't speak the language of 'duty' (see Idea 2172), but he could work it into his account if Prichard asked nicely. I take the truly virtuous person to be, above all, a wonderful citizen. Duties are contractual; good deeds flow from virtue. |