intuitionism w. d. ross. intuitionism pluralism: goods differ in kind conflict: goods of different...
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Exceptions This implies that moral principles always have exceptions It’s wrong to lie—but…. It’s wrong to steal— but…. It’s wrong to commit murder—but…. Is there anything it’s always wrong to do?TRANSCRIPT
IntuitionismW. D. Ross
Intuitionism
Pluralism: Goods differ in kind
Conflict: Goods of different kinds can conflict with each other
Complexity: There are no universal rules for resolving these conflicts
Exceptions
This implies that moral principles always have exceptions
It’s wrong to lie—but…. It’s wrong to steal— but…. It’s wrong to commit murder—but…. Is there anything it’s always wrong to do?
Defeasibility
This means that moral reasoning is defeasible. Good inferences can become bad in the
presence of additional information. Smith murdered Jones. Murder is wrong. So, Smith did something wrong.
That’s a reasonable inference. But further information can undercut it. E.g.?
Sobel Sequences
Buddhist story: A farmer receives a horse. “That’s good!” says his neighbor. “We’ll see,” says the farmer.
His son falls off the horse and breaks his leg. “That’s bad!” says the neighbor. “We’ll see,” says the farmer.
His son receives notice to report for military duty. But the broken leg gets him out of it. “That’s good!” says the neighbor. “We’ll see,” says the farmer.
Simpson Sequences
Owner: Take this object, but beware it carries a terrible curse!Homer: [worried] Ooooh, that's bad.Owner: But it comes with a free Frogurt!Homer: [relieved] That's good.Owner: The Frogurt is also cursed.Homer: [worried] That's bad.Owner: But you get your choice of topping!Homer: [relieved] That's good.Owner: The toppings contains Potassium Benzoate.Homer: [stares]Owner: That's bad.
Prima Facie Obligation
Prima Facie Obligation: what you ought to do, given some features of the particular case
Actual Obligation: what you ought to do, all things considered
Smith has a prima facie obligation not to kill Jones
Is it also an actual obligation? That depends on all the facts of the case.
Moral Risk
Actual obligations depend on all the facts of the case
But you can never know all the facts of the case
Right: so every act involves some moral risk Maybe there’s additional information you could
obtain that would undercut or override the conclusion you’ve reached so far
Sources of Prima Facie Obligation
Previous acts of mine Promise: I’m obliged to keep it Wrongful act: I’m obliged to make amends
Previous acts of others (gratitude) Justice (distributing goods according to merit) Beneficence (duties to help others) Self-improvement (virtue) Not injuring others