

A Method for Metaethics | Prof. Candace Vogler
6 snips Jun 11, 2025
Candace Vogler, a philosophy professor at the University of Chicago, explores the intricate relationship between moral philosophy and the concept of the highest good. She examines the philosophical evolution from ancient Greece to modern thinkers like Kant and Mill, contrasting their views with Aquinas' notion of God as ultimate goodness. Vogler delves into Aquinas' insights on beatitude and the limitations of human reason in pursuing true happiness, ultimately emphasizing the significance of divine vision and Christ's role in our moral journey.
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Modern Views on Highest Good
- Philosophers like John Stuart Mill and Immanuel Kant agree we can't fully experience the highest good in this life.
- Yet, they hold it's possible to be oriented toward it and have partial contact with it.
Mill Redefines Happiness
- Mill’s concept of happiness includes character and self-actualization, not just consequences.
- This approach aligns utilitarianism closer to eudaimonia and virtue ethics rather than pure consequentialism.
Kant's Complex Highest Good
- For Kant, the highest good is happiness proportional to virtue, combining self-love and morality.
- This creates a duality between subjective desires and universal moral law that must be reconciled.