The Thomistic Institute cover image

The Thomistic Institute

Who Gets to Judge?: Answering Objections to Truth in Morality | Professor Joshua Hochschild

Feb 21, 2024
Debates on truth in morality, challenges of empirical testing for moral judgments, survival vs. moral goodness, Aristotle's perspective on virtue, and the impact of positivism on defining truth are explored in a thought-provoking discussion on ethics and philosophy.
01:10:05

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Virtue is centered on rational judgment, not just emotion, reflecting the prudent person's discernment.
  • Acknowledging societal evolution doesn't erase moral truth, emphasizing humility and the potential for improvement.

Deep dives

The Definition of Virtue and Prudence in Moral Judgment

Aristotle defines virtue as a habit concerned with choice that lies in a mean, determined by reason, specifically the reason of the prudent person. Virtue is not just a matter of feeling, but an integrated judgment based on rational discernment. Prudence, or practical wisdom, is the virtue of making good moral judgments and plays a central role in determining right and wrong behavior. It is a perfection of the intellect that enables one to judge moral truth.

Get the Snipd
podcast app

Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
App store bannerPlay store banner

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode

Save any
moment

Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways

Share
& Export

Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode