Intutionism

What is Intuitionism?

ethical theories that hold that moral knowledge is received in a different way from science and logic

What type of theory is Intuitionism?

Cognitivist - moral truths can be verified

What perspective does Moore take?

Intuitionism - did not define himself like this

What perspective does Prichard take?

Intuitionism

What perspective does Ross take?

Intuitionism

What does Moore claim?

intrinsically good things exist for their own sake - cannot be analysed or broken down like other things in the physical world

• can be recognised - not about proving these things but rather seeing them

What is Moore’s quote on good?

“Good is good, and that is the end of the matter”

What is Moore’s Naturalistic Fallacy?

mistake to define the term "good" in terms of natural properties, such as "pleasurable," "desired," or "evolved"

• "good" is a simple, unanalysable property - cannot be reduced to natural, scientific, or metaphysical facts

How is Moore’s Naturalistic Fallacy explained by the colour yellow?

good is a simple notion, just as yellow is a simple notion - you know it when you see it

• e.g. complex notion: horse - can be broken down into different qualities

What does Prichard claim?

moral decision making includes both reasoning and intuitionism

• reason - collects the facts

• intuition - determines which course to follow

not linked to to the intrinsic goodness of any action - simply considers the different obligation in the situation at hand

How does Prichard explain why morals differ?

some people have more clarity around moral intuitionists - they are enlightened

What does Ross claim?

goodness cannot be defined in natural terms - cannot be absolute

• moral theories are a list of principles from which we deduce course of actions

What is Ross’ idea of prima facie duties?

moral obligations which we are bound to follow unless there’s an overriding obligation

• e.g. promise-keeping, justice, and gratitude

What are prima facie duties according to Ross?

things to consider, rather than direct rules on what to do

• duties are identified by intuition and we improve our ability to make moral judgements through experience

• take situation into account and emphasise duty

How is Ross’ Intuitionism successful?

took account of clashes of apparent absolutes, when a dilemma forces a choice that must lead to the abandonment of one principle or another

• solution to Kantian issue

How is Ross’ Intuitionism successfully address the issues of Kantian Ethics?

son who is required to be honest to a murderer’s enquiry about the whereabouts of his father because one must always be truthful

• allows discernment between requirement to be truthful and the obligation to always try to preserve life

What are the strengths of Intuitionism?

• attempts to deal with the is-ought problem

• doesn’t rely on reason

• acknowledges moral disagreements - culture & education

What are the weakness of Intuitionism?

• does not explain or prove

• reduces morality to just what a person thinks is intuitively right

• unreliable guide

Which three scholars are supportive of Intutionism?

• Moore

• Prichard

• Ross