Intuitionism

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
• Its wrong to liebut.
• Its wrong to steal but.
• Its wrong to commit murderbut.
• Is there anything its 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.
• Thats a reasonable inference.
• But further information can undercut it. E.g.?

5
Sobel Sequences

• Buddhist story A farmer receives a horse.
  Thats good! says his neighbor. Well see,
  says the farmer.
• His son falls off the horse and breaks his leg.
  Thats bad! says the neighbor. Well see,
  says the farmer.
• His son receives notice to report for military
  duty. But the broken leg gets him out of it.
  Thats good! says the neighbor. Well 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 theres additional information you could
  obtain that would undercut or override the
  conclusion youve reached so far

9
Sources of Prima Facie Obligation

• Previous acts of mine
• Promise Im obliged to keep it
• Wrongful act Im 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