Concept
Moral sense theory
Overview
Moral sense theory (also known as moral sentimentalism) is a theory in moral epistemology and meta-ethics concerning the discovery of moral truths. Moral sense theory typically holds that distinctions between morality and immorality are discovered by emotional responses to experience. Some take it to be primarily a view about the nature of moral facts or moral beliefs (a primarily metaphysical view)—this form of the view more often goes by the name "sentimentalism". Others take the view to be primarily about the nature of justifying moral beliefs (a primarily epistemological view)—this form of the view more often goes by the name "moral sense theory". However, some theorists take the view to be one which claims that both moral facts and how one comes to be justified in believing them are necessarily bound up with human emotions.
Popular historical advocates of some version of the moral sense theory or sentimentalism include the 3rd Earl of Shaftesbury (1671–1713), Francis Hutcheson (1694–1746), David Hume (1711–1776), and Adam Smith (1723–1790). Some contemporary advocates include Michael Slote, Justin D'Arms, Daniel Jacobson, Jesse Prinz, Jonathan Haidt, and perhaps John McDowell. Simon Blackburn and Allan Gibbard endorse a non-cognitivist form of sentimentalism.
Overview adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0; see the article history for authors).
Possible passages
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This is either the self-love that consists in an excessive fondness for oneself (philautia), or satisfaction with oneself (arrogantia). The former is called particularly selfishness; the latter self-conceit. Pure practical reason only checks selfishness, looking on it as natural and active in us even prior to the moral law, so far as to limit it to the condition of agreement with this law, and then it is called…
Immanuel Kant, The Critique of Practical Reason
States what Moral sense theory is; the author is tied to Moral sense theory in the knowledge graph.
The same unquestionable argument may be derived from the opinion of those, who maintain that morality is something real, essential, and founded on nature. The most probable hypothesis, which has been advanced to explain the distinction betwixt vice and virtue, and the origin of moral rights and obligations, is, that from a primary constitution of nature certain characters and passions, by the very view and…
David Hume, A Treatise of Human Nature
The author is tied to Moral sense theory in the knowledge graph.
In this way, and without the help either of an extended acquaintance with nature, or of a reliable transcendental insight (for these have been wanting in all ages), a conception of the Divine Being was arrived at, which we now hold to be the correct one, not because speculative reason convinces us of its correctness, but because it accords with the moral principles of reason. Thus it is to pure reason, but only in…
Immanuel Kant, The Critique of Pure Reason
The author is tied to Moral sense theory in the knowledge graph.
Philosophers who discussed Moral sense theory
Related ideas
- Empiricism
- Analogy
- An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals
- G. E. Moore
- Jonathan Haidt
- Immanuel Kant
- Adam Smith
- Francis Hutcheson (philosopher)
- Samuel Clarke
- Metaethics
- Mencius
- Non-cognitivism
- John McDowell
- Herbert Spencer
- A Treatise of Human Nature
- Thomas Reid
- Trolley problem
- Neo-Confucianism
- Michael Huemer
- Morality
- Simon Blackburn
- Allan Gibbard
- Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 3rd Earl of Shaftesbury
- Confucianism
Place in the tradition
Part of American philosophy.