Ep. 368: Hume on Reason in Ethics (Part Two)

The emotional construction of morals includes an extensive defense of the Humean conception of morality, but makes use of modern neuroscience and cognitive science and all that stuff.

David Hume's "An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals" is a seminal work in moral philosophy, presenting a naturalistic and sentimentalist account of ethics. Hume argues that moral judgments are not based on reason alone but are rooted in our feelings and sentiments. He emphasizes the importance of sympathy and benevolence in shaping our moral evaluations. The Enquiry explores various aspects of morality, including justice, virtue, and the role of passions in human action. Hume's work challenged rationalist traditions and laid the groundwork for subsequent developments in moral philosophy.

In this influential work, Hume seeks to establish a 'science of man' by applying the experimental method of reasoning, inspired by Isaac Newton's achievements in the physical sciences. The treatise is divided into three books: 'Of the Understanding', 'Of the Passions', and 'Of Morals'. Hume argues that human behavior is driven by passions rather than reason, introduces the problem of induction, and defends a sentimentalist account of morality. He also discusses personal identity and free will from a sceptical and compatibilist perspective.

In 'Natural Goodness', Philippa Foot presents a groundbreaking approach to moral philosophy by challenging non-cognitivist and subjectivist theories. She argues that moral goodness is an aspect of practical rationality, rooted in the natural characteristics of living beings. Foot's work critiques prominent philosophical arguments, offering a fresh perspective on ethics by linking moral evaluation to the natural flourishing of humans as living beings.