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Ideas for 'works', 'Essence and Potentiality' and 'Ethics and the Limits of Philosophy'

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23. Ethics / C. Virtue Theory / 2. Elements of Virtue Theory / c. Motivation for virtue

4112	A crucial feature of moral thought is second-order desire - the desire to have certain desires [Williams,B]
	Full Idea: Recently there has been much emphasis on the importance of our capacity to have second-order desires - the desire to have certain desires - and its significance for ethical reflection and the practical consciousness.
	From: Bernard Williams (Ethics and the Limits of Philosophy [1985], Ch. 1)
	A reaction: This is a crucial point if we are to defend a reasonably rational view of morality against (say) emotivism. I agree that it is crucial to morality.