H A Prichard

question 13

Essay

H. A. Prichard: Does Moral Philosophy Rest on a Mistake?
Prichard begins by considering a skeptical question: "Is there really a reason why I should act in the ways in which hitherto I have thought I ought to act?" Consideration of this question leads us to seek a proof of our ethical convictions, which we previously accepted without proof. The trouble is, Prichard claims, that the available answers to this question are inadequate. On the one hand, one could try to show we ought to do some action because it is in our interest. But this, Prichard objects, would not show that we ought to perform that action; it would merely succeed in making us want to perform it. On the other hand, one could claim that we should do some action because of the goodness either of the action or of its consequences. Prichard argues, however, that neither of these suffices to show that the action is obligatory.
Contrasting his own view with these attempts to prove that we ought to do something via argument, Prichard claims that our sense of obligation to perform an action "is absolutely underivative or immediate," known directly via an act of moral thinking. Although we may need to figure out the consequences of an action before we can see whether it is right or wrong, Prichard argues that once we have done so, our knowledge of our obligations is noninferential. After clarifying several aspects of his view, Prichard address the original question: Does moral philosophy rest on a mistake? Prichard's answer is that if we conceive of moral philosophy as the attempt to give arguments that will prove that we do have certain obligations, then the enterprise does rest on a mistake. This is because, on Prichard's view, moral knowledge cannot be proven, but can only be known directly by applying our moral capacities to particular situations.
-Why does Prichard object to the attempt to prove that you ought to do something on the grounds that it will be to your advantage to do so? Do you find his objection plausible?

---

Definitions:

Productive Cough

A cough that brings up mucus or phlegm from the respiratory tract, typically indicative of an infection or the clearing of airway obstructions.

High Fever

An unusually elevated body temperature, often indicating an underlying medical condition or infection.

Sterile Irrigation

The process of cleaning or washing out a wound or body cavity with a fluid, specifically one that has been sterilized to avoid infection.

Safety Precaution

Measures taken in advance to prevent accidents or harm in potentially dangerous situations.