The Key Contributions of Intuitionism to an Understanding of Ethics

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The Key Contributions of Intuitionism to an Understanding of Ethics

The ethical theory of intuitionism basically states that what is

morally right is already known to us. Intuitionism says that "good" is

an indefinable notion. The basic moral truths are objective; they hold

independently of what anyone may think or feel. Therefore we should

pick out our moral principles by following our basic moral intuitions.

The principle of intuition has first been seen in the Bible 'Indeed,

when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required

by the law... since they show that the requirements of the law are

written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and

their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them' (Romans 2:15).

However, its most famous proponent was George Edward Moore

(1863-1958).

In 1903 G.E.Moore published Principia Ethica. In this he argued that

goodness could not be defined because it was unlike any other quality.

Good is a subjective term and Moore compared this to the term yellow.

You cannot possibly define a colour; you can only simply point at it

and say “this is yellow”. This is the same as “good” we can

demonstrate a good act or point out what may be good, but we cannot

define the word "good". Moore believed this was because it is a simple

idea. Complex ideas can be broken down in to smaller ideas, thereby

defining them. Moore said, “You can give a definition of a horse

because a horse has many different properties and qualities.” For

example, a horse is a complex idea but it can be broken down into

mane, four legs, animal, herbivore etc and each of these things can be

broken down f...

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...the moral rule "we ought not to

lie". Ross also argued that we derive our sense of ‘rightness’ and

‘duty’ from being in particular situations, for example witnessing

someone being beaten. Our experience of that situation and our

intuition will tell us what is the right thing to do.

Generally, Intuitionism has been rejected by most philosophers.

Intuitionism does not overcome the hurdle of how our knowledge of

moral facts and our belief in them can motivate us to act morally.

Also, the mysterious faculty of intuition is never really explained

properly and is dismissed by many.

However, it is important to recognise that Moore’s Principia Ethica

had a very powerful influence on the ethics that followed and most

philosophers engaged in ethics have made strenuous efforts to avoid

committing the Naturalistic Fallacy.

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