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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 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 • 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