Philippa Foot's Metaethics

Philippa Foot's ethical naturalism is defended, emphasizing her grammatical method derived from Ludwig Wittgenstein's later philosophy. It connects moral virtues to human powers, arguing that ethical judgment is tied to our self-understanding as rational animals. This interpretation preserves the insights of the Aristotelian tradition in practical philosophy.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 75 pages
Publication date: 10 June 2021
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

This essay presents an interpretation and defense of Philippa Foot's ethical naturalism. It begins with the often neglected grammatical method that Foot derives from an interpretation of Ludwig Wittgenstein's later philosophy. This method shapes her approach to understanding goodness as well as the role that she attributes to human nature in ethical judgment. Moral virtues, understood as perfections of human powers, are central to Foot's account of ethical judgment. The thrust of the interpretation offered here is that Foot's metaethics takes ethical judgment to be tied to our self-understanding as a sort of rational animal. Foot's metaethics thereby offers a compelling contemporary approach that preserves some of the best insights of the Aristotelian tradition in practical philosophy.

Ethical naturalism is a philosophical approach that emphasizes the importance of human nature in determining ethical values and principles. It is rooted in the belief that human beings are fundamentally rational creatures capable of making moral decisions based on reason and logic. Ethical naturalism holds that ethical values and principles are inherent in human nature and can be discovered through empirical observation and logical reasoning.

One of the key figures in the development of ethical naturalism is Philippa Foot, a British philosopher who is widely regarded as one of the most influential thinkers of the 20th century. Foot's ethical naturalism is based on an interpretation of Ludwig Wittgenstein's later philosophy, which she saw as providing a more accurate account of human nature and moral reasoning.

Foot's grammatical method is a key aspect of her ethical naturalism. According to Foot, moral judgments are made by applying grammatical rules to sentences that express ethical claims. These rules are based on the idea that language is fundamentally rule-governed and that the meaning of a sentence is determined by the rules that govern its use. By applying these rules to ethical claims, Foot argues that we can determine the moral truth of a claim and the moral obligations that flow from it.

One of the key insights of Foot's grammatical method is that it allows us to understand the role of human nature in ethical judgment. Foot argues that human nature is fundamentally moral and that moral virtues are inherent in human powers. These virtues are the capacities that enable us to act in a way that is consistent with our moral values and principles. For example, Foot argues that the virtue of courage enables us to face danger and act in a way that is consistent with our moral values, while the virtue of honesty enables us to tell the truth and act in a way that is consistent with our moral values.

Another important aspect of Foot's ethical naturalism is her emphasis on the importance of moral virtues in determining ethical judgments. Foot argues that moral virtues are essential to human flourishing and that they are the basis of our moral obligations. She believes that we have a moral obligation to develop and exercise our moral virtues and that we should strive to live up to the highest standards of moral excellence.

Foot's ethical naturalism also offers a compelling contemporary approach to practical philosophy. She argues that ethical values and principles are inherent in human nature and that they can be discovered through empirical observation and logical reasoning. This approach allows us to develop a moral framework that is grounded in reason and logic and that can be applied to a wide range of ethical dilemmas.

In conclusion, ethical naturalism is a philosophical approach that emphasizes the importance of human nature in determining ethical values and principles. Philippa Foot's ethical naturalism is based on an interpretation of Ludwig Wittgenstein's later philosophy and her grammatical method provides a powerful tool for understanding the role of human nature in ethical judgment. Foot's emphasis on moral virtues and her commitment to practical philosophy make her ethical naturalism a compelling and relevant approach to contemporary ethical dilemmas.

Weight: 118g
Dimension: 151 x 226 x 7 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781108713290