Single Idea 11056

[catalogued under 22. Metaethics / A. Ethics Foundations / 2. Source of Ethics / a. Idealistic ethics]

Full Idea

The naturalistic fallacy ..consists in the contention that good means nothing but some simple or complex notion, that can be defined in terms of natural qualities.

Gist of Idea

The naturalistic fallacy claims that natural qualties can define 'good'

Source

G.E. Moore (Principia Ethica [1903], §044)

Book Reference

Moore,G.E.: 'Principia Ethica' [CUP 1980], p.73


A Reaction

Presumably aimed at those who think morality is pleasure and pain. We could hardly attribute morality to non-human qualities. I connect morality to human deliberative functions.