Skip to content
Carmelics
TopicsThinkersChangesContributorsLoading account…

    Carmelics

    A reasoning platform. Break down any belief into clear reasons, explore both sides, and weigh the evidence honestly.

    Navigate

    • Topics
    • Search
    • Recent Changes
    • Contribute
    • How It Works
    • Glossary
    • Thinkers
    • Contributors
    • About
    • Statistics
    • Terms
    • Privacy

    Database

    Statements
    —
    Perspectives
    —
    Topics
    —

    Press ? for keyboard shortcuts

    LoyalLoyalJusticeJustice
    Made withinDC&Austin
    Ross's claim that some virtuous motives are better than o... — Carmelics
    Statements
    321,452
    Perspectives
    108,905
    Topics
    42
    Home/Moral Responsibility
    HistoryEditSee Inverse

    Ross's claim that some virtuous motives are better than others is questionable with respect to duty-desire versus good-promotion-desire

    Moral ResponsibilityVirtue Ethics
    ?Rate how convincing each reason is below to see the overall strength.
    2 reasons for
    1 reason against

    Reasons For

    2 perspectives
    Reason for 1 of 2
    ?
    • 1.Kant's Formula of Universal Law shows duty-based motivation uniquely tracks moral bindingness independent of contingent outcomes.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 2.Good-promotion-desire is hostage to empirical uncertainty about what promotes welfare, making it structurally less reliable as a moral motive.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 3.A motive grounded in obligation persists even when promoting general good conflicts with duty, revealing its superior moral robustness.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    Reason for 2 of 2
    ?
    • 1.Ross himself distinguishes prima facie duties from actual duties, meaning duty-desire responds to moral structure that good-promotion-desire systematically ignores.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 2.Bernard Williams's integrity objection shows consequentialist good-promotion can alienate agents from their own moral commitments, whereas duty-desire does not.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    Reasons Against

    1 perspective
    Reason against
    ?
    • 1.Following warranted public health measures out of a desire to do what one ought is not clearly better than following them out of a desire to promote general good
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 2.The two motivational structures are relevantly similar in form and value
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    Sign in or register to share your perspective on this statement.

    Next step

    Based on where you are in your exploration

    Strongest counterpoint
    Explore the most compelling reason on the other side.

    Topics

    Moral ResponsibilityVirtue Ethics

    Connections

    1 topic

    Consequentialism1 linked

    Related

    A motive grounded in obligation persists even when promoting general good confli...Bernard Williams's integrity objection shows consequentialist good-promotion can...Following warranted public health measures out of a desire to do what one ought ...Good-promotion-desire is hostage to empirical uncertainty about what promotes we...
    +3 moreShow less
    Kant's Formula of Universal Law shows duty-based motivation uniquely tracks mora...Ross himself distinguishes prima facie duties from actual duties, meaning duty-d...The two motivational structures are relevantly similar in form and value

    Similar

    The desire to do one's duty is not always better than the desire to pr...85%The key difference between Kant and Hume on moral motivation is that K...82%Akrasia (acting against one's better judgment) is possible because som...78%Our duty to promote the highest good gives rise only to a need of reas...78%

    Source

    AI-extracted1/3 agreementValid
    SEP: william-david-ross
    View source passageHide passage
    Ross also says, as we noted, some virtuous motives are better than others. We might question whether we really can affirm, for example, the desire to do one’s duty is always better than the desire to produce something good (RG 164–65). The desire to do your duty because it is your duty seems no more valuable than the desire to promote good because it is good (Hurka 2003, 213–14). Both involve similar kinds of attitudes (loving the good and loving the right) and overcoming similar kinds of obstac
    Extraction notes

    Validity: Extracted via Max plan + API grounding/validity checks

    Details

    Type
    claim
    Perspectives
    3 (2 for, 1 against)
    Edits
    1 edit