Single Idea 22474

[catalogued under 22. Metaethics / A. Ethics Foundations / 1. Nature of Ethics / g. Moral responsibility]

Full Idea

Moral, as opposed to aesthetic, evaluation does require some distinction between actions for which we are responsible and those for which we are not responsible.

Gist of Idea

Unlike aesthetic evaluation, moral evaluation needs a concept of responsibility

Source

Philippa Foot (Nietzsche's Immoralism [1991], p.154)

Book Reference

Foot,Philippa: 'Moral Dilemmas' [OUP 2002], p.154


A Reaction

It is hard to disagree with this, but difficult to give a precise account of responsibility, probably because it is not an all-or-nothing matter. If we accept responsibility for our controlled actions, why not for our considered aesthetic judgements?