intuitionism (non-naturalism)

G.E. MOORE = consequentialist, teleological; W.D. ROSS = deontologist

what is intuitionism?

• good is self-evident (in the world)

• can ‘intuit’ right and wrong, just as we can perceive danger

how does G.E. MOORE define good?

naturalistic fallacy

• “good is good”

• can’t be defined, just as the colour ‘yellow’ can’t be defined

• simple idea

  • can’t be broken into parts

  • grasped by intuition

how does G.E. MOORE define knowing what is right or wrong?

• right = action producing most good

  • consequentialist, teleological (focus on consequence)

• use reason

W.D. ROSS

• deontologist

  • rightness established by action, not consequence

• intuitive induction

  • comparing situations with thought experiments to work out rules for situation

what influences making good moral decisions according to W.D. ROSS?

good upbringing

• good morals have been modelled for you

examples of prima facie duties (7)

• gratitude

• justice

• non-harm

• beneficence

• fidelity

• reparations (making up for injuries to others)

• harm-prevention