Journal of Philosophical Investigations

Document Type : Research Paper

Author

Abstract

In this paper, I have tried to present, by a descriptive – analytic method, an analytical description of, the eighteenth century Scottish philosopher, Thomas Reid's ethical theory - which is known as "Common-Sense Intuitionism" – on the way of perceiving and acknowledging the moral values and norms, and through this analytical description, answering these two questions: "How far does the scope of Reid's ethical intuitionism contain?" and "What is Reid's explanation of the origin of moral error?" With reference to the above-mentioned analytical description, and by clarifying some of the pros and cons of Reid's ethical theory, I have tried to show, first, "Whether Reid's ethical theory is a justified, defensible and acceptable theory in justifying the validity of ethical knowledge?" And then, “Whether Reid's explanation of the origin of men's moral error is a sufficient explanation?"

Keywords

 
-Becker, Lawrence C. & Becker, Charlotte C. (eds.) . 1992, Encyclopedia of Ethics, Vol. 2; Chicago &London: St. James Press; First edition.
-Copleston, Frederick Charles. 1971, A History of Philosophy, Vol. 5; London: The Newman Press; fifth impression.
-Gallie, Roger D. 1998, Thomas Reid: Ethics, Aesthetics and the anatomy of the Self; Dordrecht: Kluwer Academic Publishers; First impression.
-Lehrer, Keith. 1991, Thomas Reid; London & New York: Routledge; Second impression.
-Mackie, John Leslie. 1983, Ethics: Inventing Right and Wrong; Harmondsworth: Penguin Books; Fifth impression.
-Raphael, D. D. (ed.). 1991, British Moralists: 1650-1800 (two volumes); Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing Company; First impression.
-Reid Thomas. 1990, An inquiry into the human mind on the principles of common sense, with a new introduciton by James B. Wood; Bristol: Thoemmes Publeishers; First impression.
-Sidgwick, Henry. 1968, Outlines of the History of Ethics; Boston: Beacon Press; Sixth edition, third impression.
-Stace, Walter Terence. 1953, Religion and the Modern Mind; London: Macmillan & Co; First impression.
-Stace, Walter Terence.1962, The concept of Morals; New York: The Macmillan Company; Second edition.
CAPTCHA Image