Philosophy
2: Society and Values
Los Angeles Pierce College
Department of History, Philosophy, & Sociology
Lecture
Notes for Midgley Reading
Lecture Notes for the Midgley
Reading
Is Ought
Absolute Relative
Moral
Isolationism
Midgley: "Now when we hear of [unfamiliar customs],
we may well reflect that we simply do not understand [them]; and therefore are
not qualified to criticize [them] at all, because we are not members of that
culture. But we are not members of
any other culture either, except our own.
So we extend the principle to cover all extraneous cultures, and we seem
therefore to be moral isolationists."
Against
Moral Isolationism
Midgley: "But this is, as we shall see, an impossible
position."
The
Slippery Slope
Midgley: "Moral isolationism forbids us to form any opinions on these matters. Its ground for doing so is that we don't
understand them. But there is much
that we don't understand in our own culture too. This brings us to our last question: If
we can't judge other cultures, can we really judge our own?" "In short, moral isolationism would
lay down a general ban on moral reasoning."
Slippery
Slopes and Camels' Noses
1) The Initial Step
2) Principle that necessarily leads to consequence
3) Unavoidable consequence
4) Warning against initial step
Slippery
Slope EG
Talking about race, politics, religion, etc. during
Thanksgiving Dinner with that one relative
The Initial Step: bring some issue with regards to
an impending election
Principle that Leads to Unwanted Consequence: that
political, pugilistic relative that loves to talk about the subject in a
combative way
Unwanted Consequence: everyone hating the
experience and thus not wanting to talk with each other for 364 days
Warning Against Initial Consequence: don't bring up
politics during Thanksgiving?
Midgley's Slippery Slope
Midgley: "Moral isolationism forbids us to form any opinions on these matters. Its ground for doing so is that we don't
understand them. But there is much
that we don't understand in our own culture too. This brings us to our last question: If
we can't judge other cultures, can we really judge our own?" "In short, moral isolationism would
lay down a general ban on moral reasoning."