Combining Texts

Ideas for 'Parmenides', 'Letters to Bouvet' and 'On Denoting'

unexpand these ideas     |    start again     |     choose another area for these texts

display all the ideas for this combination of texts


1 idea

23. Ethics / D. Deontological Ethics / 1. Deontology
We want good education and sociability, rather than lots of moral precepts [Leibniz]
     Full Idea: The true practical philosophy consists in good rules for education, intercourse and sociability among men, rather than in general precepts on virtues and duties.
     From: Gottfried Leibniz (Letters to Bouvet [1697], p.165)
     A reaction: I would interpret that as saying that the main aim of morality is to enable people to hold a good conversation. I've heard worse theories of morality. The remark shows why Leibniz has little to say explicitly about morality.