Single Idea 5898

[catalogued under 22. Metaethics / C. The Good / 1. Goodness / c. Right and good]

Full Idea

'Right' does not mean the same as 'morally good'; we cannot substitute 'he is a right man' for 'he is a morally good man'; this is not just an English idiom, as it is clear that a 'right act' is the act which ought to be done.

Gist of Idea

'Right' and 'good' differ in meaning, as in a 'right action' and a 'good man'

Source

W. David Ross (The Right and the Good [1930], §I)

Book Reference

Ross,W.David: 'The Right and the Good' [OUP 1930], p.3


A Reaction

This is nowadays accepted as a basic distinction in ethical discussions. Shooting a prisoner might be the right thing to do, but it is unlikely to be good. We may talk of 'good deeds', but never of 'right' people.