Intuitionism
UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA, NSUKKA.
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SCIENCES
AN ASSIGNMENT ON:
THE THEORY OF INTUITIONISM
A SEMINAR PRESENTATION IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF PHIL.523 (MODERN ETHICAL SYSTEM)
BY
ABAH, GEORGE .O. (REV. FR.)
PG/MA/12/63875
LECTURER: DR. ENEH
FEBRUARY, 2013
INTUITIONISM
INTRODUCTION
All the ethical theories imply some norm or standard of morality. They not only proclaim the fact that morality exists but also that there is some way of distinguishing the good from the evil, the right from the wrong. Ethical theories do not differ greatly in the actual codes of morality they adopt. The list of approved and disapproved acts, despite some glaring exceptions, is in general much the same. Where they differ most is in their reasons for the approval or disapproval, in the principles on which they base their judgments about morality, that is to say, in the norm or standard by which they judge morality. Intuitionism, which is our concern in this discussion, is one of these ethical theories. The theory, which is in agreement about the facts with other theories, parts ways from them about the reasons and or the routes to getting and judging the facts. Proponents of this theory think that we have a feel, a sense, an instinct, whatever one wants to call it, that immediately manifests to us what is good and what is evil in the moral sphere, and that this is basically the same in all of us. Our discussion below will unravel more on the teachings, history, and the criticisms for and against the theory. We shall as well attempt a summary and an evaluation of the concept before drawing our conclusions.
THE CONCEPT OF INTUITIONISM Intuitionism is an ethical theory that teaches that moral knowledge is direct, immediate or intuitive. Making it clearer, Eneh (2001) states that “Intuitionism in ethics is the view that some moral judgments such as goodness,
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SCIENCES
AN ASSIGNMENT ON:
THE THEORY OF INTUITIONISM
A SEMINAR PRESENTATION IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF PHIL.523 (MODERN ETHICAL SYSTEM)
BY
ABAH, GEORGE .O. (REV. FR.)
PG/MA/12/63875
LECTURER: DR. ENEH
FEBRUARY, 2013
INTUITIONISM
INTRODUCTION
All the ethical theories imply some norm or standard of morality. They not only proclaim the fact that morality exists but also that there is some way of distinguishing the good from the evil, the right from the wrong. Ethical theories do not differ greatly in the actual codes of morality they adopt. The list of approved and disapproved acts, despite some glaring exceptions, is in general much the same. Where they differ most is in their reasons for the approval or disapproval, in the principles on which they base their judgments about morality, that is to say, in the norm or standard by which they judge morality. Intuitionism, which is our concern in this discussion, is one of these ethical theories. The theory, which is in agreement about the facts with other theories, parts ways from them about the reasons and or the routes to getting and judging the facts. Proponents of this theory think that we have a feel, a sense, an instinct, whatever one wants to call it, that immediately manifests to us what is good and what is evil in the moral sphere, and that this is basically the same in all of us. Our discussion below will unravel more on the teachings, history, and the criticisms for and against the theory. We shall as well attempt a summary and an evaluation of the concept before drawing our conclusions.
THE CONCEPT OF INTUITIONISM Intuitionism is an ethical theory that teaches that moral knowledge is direct, immediate or intuitive. Making it clearer, Eneh (2001) states that “Intuitionism in ethics is the view that some moral judgments such as goodness,
References: Aristotle; Posterior Analytics, bk. 11, ch. 19; Metaphysics, bk. IV, ch. 4. Butler; Fifteen Sermons upon Human Nature, Sermons 11 and 111. Eneh, J.O., War & Peace: Aspects of Practical Ethics, (Pub. By AFRANEDOH (Nig.) LTD, Calabar) 2001. Hutcheson; Inquiry into the original of our ideas of Beauty and virtue, Treatise 11, sec. 1 http://en.wikipedia.org.wiki/intuitionsim http://www.philosophybasics.com/branchintuitionism.html#history Jill Graper Hernandez (ed.). The New Intuitionism, Continuum 2011. Milton A. Gonsalves (ed.) Fagothey’s Right and Reason, Ethics in Theory and Practice, (Charles E. Merrill Publishing Company, 1985). St. Thomas; Summa Theologica, 1-11, q. 94, a. 2.