Transcript Susan Wolf, *Moral Saints

Phil 240, W8L4, Intro to Ethical Theory, Benjamin Visscher
Hole IV
Susan Wolf,
“Moral Saints”
Agenda
1.
2.
3.
Clicker Quiz (on Wolf)
Discuss broader issues in ethical theory
Wolf on Moral Saints
Clicker Quiz
Wolf defines a “moral saint” as
a person who:
A. is as morally worthy
as possible.
B. is as religiously
observant as
possible.
C. dies for the cause
of morality.
D. all of the above.
E. none of the above.
100%
of
th
e
ab
o
ve
.
ve
.
ab
o
no
ne
ft
he
or
a.
..
lo
al
of
m
...
us
e
an
t
fo
rt
he
ca
ob
se
rv
di
es
io
as
is
is
as
m
re
lig
or
a
lly
us
ly
w
or
th
y
as
p.
..
0% 0% 0% 0%
Wolf defines a “Loving Saint” is
someone:
90%
10%
itt
lo
ho
pa
y
sl
ne
s
pp
i
ha
w
ho
se
w
0%
0%
0%
ie
sp
ve
r i.
le
..
sa
o
rn
ll
hu
o
is
at
m
m
a
t..
or
n
.
be
al
ly
in
pe
gs
rfe
e.
..
ct
on
ly
al
in
lo
...
ft
h
no
e
ab
ne
ov
of
e.
th
e
ab
ov
e.
0%
sl
A. whose happiness lies
primarily in the happiness
of others.
B. who pays little or no
attention to his own
happiness, in light of the
overriding importance of
morality.
C. loves all human beings
equally.
D. is morally perfect only in
relation to those he loves.
E. all of the above.
F. none of the above.
Wolf defines a “Rational Saint”
is someone:
A. whose happiness lies in the
happiness of others.
B. who pays little or no attention to his
own happiness, in light of the
overriding importance of morality.
C. who never makes an error in
reasoning.
D. acts morally only when it is in his
rational self-interest.
E. all of the above.
F. none of the above.
90%
10%
ve
.
0%
of
th
e
ab
o
ab
o
ve
.
0%
no
ne
ft
he
lo
ly
on
ly
or
al
al
w
he
n
it .
..
.. .
er
ro
es
m
ak
ts
m
ho
w
ac
ne
v
er
sl
itt
le
or
no
an
at
n
si
lie
ne
ss
pa
y
pp
i
ho
ha
w
ho
se
w
0%
t..
.
...
0%
Universality and Context-Sensitivity
BROADER ISSUES IN ETHICAL THEORY
Watson’s Dilemma Revisited
Horn One
moral indeterminancy
Horn Two
circularity
Watson’s dilemma is a devastating
objection to virtue ethical theory
A. Strongly Agree
B. Agree
C. Somewhat Agree
D. Neutral
E. Somewhat Disagree
F. Disagree
G. Strongly Disagree
14%
14%
14%
14%
14%
Ag
re
e
ha
tA
gr
ee
So
Ne
m
ew
ut
ra
ha
l
tD
isa
gr
ee
D
St
isa
ro
gr
ng
ee
ly
Di
sa
gr
ee
14%
ew
So
m
St
ro
ng
ly
Ag
r
ee
14%
Watson’s dilemma is a devastating
objection to any ethical theory
A. Strongly Agree
B. Agree
C. Somewhat Agree
D. Neutral
E. Somewhat Disagree
F. Disagree
G. Strongly Disagree
14%
14%
14%
14%
14%
Ag
re
e
ha
tA
gr
ee
So
Ne
m
ew
ut
ra
ha
l
tD
isa
gr
ee
D
St
isa
ro
gr
ng
ee
ly
Di
sa
gr
ee
14%
ew
So
m
St
ro
ng
ly
Ag
r
ee
14%
Objectivity is more important than
context-sensitivity
A. Strongly Agree
B. Agree
C. Somewhat Agree
D. Neutral
E. Somewhat Disagree
F. Disagree
G. Strongly Disagree
14%
14%
14%
14%
14%
Ag
re
e
ha
tA
gr
ee
So
Ne
m
ew
ut
ra
ha
l
tD
isa
gr
ee
D
St
isa
ro
gr
ng
ee
ly
Di
sa
gr
ee
14%
ew
So
m
St
ro
ng
ly
Ag
r
ee
14%
Which theory has the best claim to
universality?
14%
14%
14%
14%
14%
Ag
re
e
ha
tA
gr
ee
So
Ne
m
ew
ut
ra
ha
l
tD
isa
gr
ee
D
St
isa
ro
gr
ng
ee
ly
Di
sa
gr
ee
14%
ew
So
m
ly
Ag
r
ee
14%
St
ro
ng
A. Social Contractarianism
(Glaucon and Hobbes)
B. Kantian deontology
C. Bentham’s hedonistic
utilitarianism
D. Mill’s hedonistic
utilitarianism
E. Aristotle’s virtue ethical
theory
F. Nussbaum’s virtue
ethical theory
Which theory has the best claim to
context-sensitivity?
14%
14%
14%
14%
14%
Ag
re
e
ha
tA
gr
ee
So
Ne
m
ew
ut
ra
ha
l
tD
isa
gr
ee
D
St
isa
ro
gr
ng
ee
ly
Di
sa
gr
ee
14%
ew
So
m
ly
Ag
r
ee
14%
St
ro
ng
A. Social Contractarianism
(Glaucon and Hobbes)
B. Kantian deontology
C. Bentham’s hedonistic
utilitarianism
D. Mill’s hedonistic
utilitarianism
E. Aristotle’s virtue ethical
theory
F. Nussbaum’s virtue
ethical theory
Which theory has the best balance of
universality and context-sensitivity?
14%
14%
14%
14%
14%
Ag
re
e
ha
tA
gr
ee
So
Ne
m
ew
ut
ra
ha
l
tD
isa
gr
ee
D
St
isa
ro
gr
ng
ee
ly
Di
sa
gr
ee
14%
ew
So
m
ly
Ag
r
ee
14%
St
ro
ng
A. Social Contractarianism
(Glaucon and Hobbes)
B. Kantian deontology
C. Bentham’s hedonistic
utilitarianism
D. Mill’s hedonistic
utilitarianism
E. Aristotle’s virtue ethical
theory
F. Nussbaum’s virtue
ethical theory
Which theory is the best?
14%
14%
14%
14%
14%
Ag
re
e
ha
tA
gr
ee
So
Ne
m
ew
ut
ra
ha
l
tD
isa
gr
ee
D
St
isa
ro
gr
ng
ee
ly
Di
sa
gr
ee
14%
ew
So
m
ly
Ag
r
ee
14%
St
ro
ng
A. Social Contractarianism
(Glaucon and Hobbes)
B. Kantian deontology
C. Bentham’s hedonistic
utilitarianism
D. Mill’s hedonistic
utilitarianism
E. Aristotle’s virtue ethical
theory
F. Nussbaum’s virtue
ethical theory
“Moral Saints”
SUSAN WOLF
Overview
Big Questions
1. Do moral ideals make the
best personal ideals?
2.
If not, what does this mean
for moral theories?
Key Ideas
Moral saint
“A person whose every action is
as morally good as possible, a
person, that is, who is as
morally worthy as can be.”
Wolf's thesis
“Moral perfection … does not
constitute a model of personal
well-being toward which it
would be particularly rational or
good or desirable for a human
being to strive.”
Two Models of Moral Sainthood
The Loving Saint
A person whose
happiness lies, above all
else, in the happiness of
others.
The Rational Saint
A person who pays little
or no attention to her
own happiness, instead
attributing overriding
importance to morality.
The two models of moral sainthood charitable interpretations
of utilitarianism and Kantian deontology.
A. Strongly Agree
B. Agree
C. Somewhat Agree
D. Neutral
E. Somewhat Disagree
F. Disagree
G. Strongly Disagree
40%
20%
20%
10%
10%
0%
Ag
re
e
ha
tA
gr
ee
So
Ne
m
ew
ut
ra
ha
l
tD
isa
gr
ee
D
St
isa
ro
gr
ng
ee
ly
Di
sa
gr
ee
ew
So
m
St
ro
ng
ly
Ag
r
ee
0%
Defects of Moral Sainthood




Little time to acquire nonmoral interests or tastes.
Cannot develop cynical or
sarcastic wit.
Cannot enjoy luxuries like
fine cooking.
Must be inoffensive, and
therefore likely to be bland.
Defects of Moral Sainthood

Little time to acquire nonmoral interests or tastes.
Selfless saints




Cannot develop cynical or
sarcastic wit.
Cannot enjoy luxuries like
fine cooking.
Must be inoffensive, and
therefore likely to be bland.

Loving saints seem to
be incapable of
experiencing certain
non-moral joys.
Rational saints simply
pass up some
pleasures, which is
equally troubling.