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Intuitionism

Intuitionism. W. 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

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Intuitionism

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  1. Intuitionism W. D. Ross

  2. 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

  3. 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?

  4. 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.?

  5. 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.

  6. 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.

  7. 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.

  8. 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

  9. 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

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