导论摘录 (original) (raw)
导论摘录
- 2021-10-30 10:59:18
These can be grouped under three headings, each represent- ing a core area of moral philosophy:
- Value theory
- Normative ethics
- Metaethics
引自 The Lay of the Land
most of those who harbor serious doubts about morality base their skepticism on one or more of the following considerations: (A) Individuals constantly disagree about what's right and wrong, and societies do, too. If there were some objective truth in ethics, then we should expect all really smart people to agree on it. They don't. So there is no objective truth in ethics. (B) There are universally correct moral standards only if God exists.But God doesn't exist, so ethics is just a "human construct." (C) Science tells us the truth about the world, and science says nothing about what's right and wrong. And that's because nothing really is right or wrong. (D) If there were a universal ethic, then that would make it okay for some people to impose their own views on others. But that's not okay at all. Therefore there is no universal ethic. (E) If there were objective moral rules, then it would always be wrong to break them. But every rule admits of exceptions; no moral rule is absolute. That shows that we do make up the moral rules after all.
引自 Skepticism about Ethics
There are reasonable constraints that can guide us when thinking about how to live. Here are some of them: • Neither the law nor tradition is immune from moral criticism. • Everyone is morally fallible. • Friendship is valuable. • We are not obligated to do the impossible. • Children bear less moral responsibility than adults. • Justice is a very important moral good. • Deliberately hurting other people requires justification. • Equals ought to be treated equally. • Self-interest isn't the only ethical consideration. • Agony is bad. • Might doesn't make right. • Free and informed requests prevent rights violations.
引自 Ethical Starting Points
We can also better understand morality by contrasting its principles with those that govern the law, etiquette, self-interest, and tradition.
引自 What Is Morality?
In other words, our moral thinking should have two complementary goals: getting it right, and being able to back up our views with flawless reasoning.
引自 Moral Reasoning
What we want in philosophy, as in all other areas of inquiry, are arguments that have two features: (1) they are logically watertight (valid), and (2) all of their premises are true. These arguments are known as sound arguments.
引自 Moral Reasoning
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