Single Idea 4501

[catalogued under 23. Ethics / E. Utilitarianism / 3. Motivation for Altruism]

Full Idea

Utilitarianism (socialism, democracy) criticises the origins of moral evaluations, but it believes them just as much as the Christian does.

Gist of Idea

Utilitarianism criticises the origins of morality, but still believes in it as much as Christians

Source

Friedrich Nietzsche (The Will to Power (notebooks) [1888], §253)

Book Reference

Nietzsche,Friedrich: 'The Will to Power', ed/tr. Kaufmann,W /Hollingdate,R [Vintage 1968], p.147


A Reaction

It is a critique of both utilitarianism and Kantian deontology that they seem to rest on unquestioned assumptions about what has value (pleasure, happiness, reason). I think Aristotle offers a better answer to this problem than 'divine' authority.