GE Moore and the Naturalistic Flashcards
naturalistic
as in what is natural/ from the world
fallacy
mistake
G.E Moore
-1873-1958
-Principia Ethica
-naturalistic fallacy “whenever a philosopher attempts to prove a claim about ethics through appealing to a definition of the term ‘good’ by using a natural property such as pleasing or desirable”
Moores Argument
-not acceptable to confuse ‘good’ with natural properties or hold it to be identical with such a property.
-define good in terms of something which can be identifies in the world or human nature
-these are non-moral concepts since there’s nothing intrinsically good about happiness, fitness or health, they are only good if we define them as such .
The Naturalistic Fallacy: Against Ethical Naturalism
-used by Moore to support intuitionism and reject naturalism
-good cant be explained through comparing it to positive things that are naturally occurring in the world.
-‘good’ isn’t synonymous with ideas such as ‘pleasantness’, ‘desirability’
-counteracts argument of naturalism: that what is good causes human pleasure, making ‘good’ and pleasure the same.
Intuitionism teaches 3 main things
-there are real objective moral truths that are ind of human beings= cognitive
-these are fundamental truths that cant be broke. down into parts or defined by reference to anything except other moral truths
-humans can discover these truths by using their minds in a particular, intuitive way.
Intuitionism
-moral norms have an objective existence that is ind of human experience.
-morality is intuitive
-you cant define words like ‘good’. know something is good because our intuition tells us its good.
-doesnt mean all moral decisions are reached by relying on intuition, enables ppl to know basic moral truths so that they’re able to make ethical decisions.
The colour yellow
-good unanalysable and cant be defines
“Good is good, and that’s the end of the matter”
-we know what yellow is and can recognise it, but we cant actually define it.
-work out right and wring by looking at consequences. if consequence right its right.
-criticises ethical naturalism
Moore - naturalistic fallacy
- shouldn’t define good by certain properties that we like or desire.
-if something makes us feel happy, we cant define it as good.
two types of ideas
Moore
Simple- ideas that cant be broken down
Complex- ideas that can be broken down using other ideas.
yellow is a simple idea
-yellow is yellow
-good is good
Intuitionism - stand alone
-stand alone
-not supported by inference from other beliefs.
-yellow is yellow
-moral beliefs are self-evident to those that hold them
-intuitionism is a form of moral realism.
Strengths of Intuitionism
-allows for objective moral values to be identifies and therefore proposes a form of moral realism.
-doesn propose a subjective or emotive approach to ethics but it does avoid the problems of identifying ethics with a natural property.
-may be associated with the idea of conscience as a moral guide.
-intuitionuist points to existence of a considerable common consensus on moral issues, such as the value of human life, as evidence of a common intuition of morality.
-allows moral duties and obligations so satisfies a moral absolutist.
Problems with Intuitionism
-people de intuit and reason to different conclusions and there’s no obvious way to resolve they differences.
-how can we be sure our intuitions are correct?
-intuituion could be considered meaningless since its non verifiable.
-hume argued that we have a motivation for acting in certain ways, although intuitionists may respond to this with the suggestion that if we feel motivated towards a particular action its because we have an innate desire to do it that goes beyond reason.
