Single Idea 9262

[catalogued under 23. Ethics / C. Virtue Theory / 1. Virtue Theory / c. Particularism]

Full Idea

Moral Philosophy rests on the mistake of supposing the possibility of proving what can only be apprehended directly by an act of moral thinking.

Gist of Idea

The mistake is to think we can prove what can only be seen directly in moral thinking

Source

H.A. Prichard (Does moral phil rest on a mistake? [1912])

Book Reference

Prichard,H.A.: 'Moral Writings' [OUP 2002], p.19


A Reaction

This is a beginning of the rebellion against the Enlightenment Project in ethics, which is why Prichard has become popular. At bottom he is offering intuition ('direct moral thinking'), which is a frustratingly thin concept.