Single Idea 8105

[catalogued under 28. God / A. Divine Nature / 6. Divine Morality / c. God is the good]

Full Idea

If we exclude the idea of God, it is impossible to have an exact idea of virtue.

Gist of Idea

We can't exactly conceive virtue without the idea of God

Source

Joseph Joubert (Notebooks [1800], 1808)

Book Reference

Joubert,Joseph: 'Notebooks', ed/tr. Auster,Paul [nyrb 2005], p.130


A Reaction

I suspect that an 'exact' idea is impossible even with an idea of God. This is an interesting defence of the importance of God in moral thinking, but it only requires the concept of a supreme being, and not belief.