Single Idea 23685

[catalogued under 22. Metaethics / A. Ethics Foundations / 2. Source of Ethics / b. Rational ethics]

Full Idea

In her middle period she changed her mind, and attacks moral rationalism.

Gist of Idea

Reason is not a motivator of morality

Source

report of Philippa Foot (Morality as system of hypothetical imperatives [1972]) by John Hacker-Wright - Philippa Foot's Moral Thought Intro

Book Reference

Hacker-Wright,John: 'Philippa Foot's Moral Thought' [Bloomsbury 2013], p.5


A Reaction

That is, she doubted whether moral reasons are sufficient to motivate moral actions, which presumably therefore need desires, as the Humeans claimed. Reasons rely on merely hypothetical rules.

Related Idea

Idea 23684 Morality gives everyone reasons to act, irrespective of their desires [Foot, by Hacker-Wright]