“theories of justice are attempting to use their axioms to pin down something that is already there”
So in other words, duty, justice, mercy—morality words—are basically logical transformations that transform the state of the universe (or a particular circumstance) into an ought statement.
Just as we derive valid conlcusions from premises using logical statements, we derive moral obligations from premises using moral statements.
The term ‘utility funcion’ seems less novel now (novel as in, a departure from traditional ethics).
Not quite. They don’t go all the way to completing an ought statement, as this doesn’t solve the Is/Ought dichotomy. They are logical transformations that make applying our values to the universe much easier.
“X is unjust” doesn’t quite create an ought statement of “Don’t do X”. If I place value on justice, that statement helps me evaluate X. I may decide that some other consideration trumps justice. I may decide to steal bread to feed my starving family, even if I view the theft as unjust.
“theories of justice are attempting to use their axioms to pin down something that is already there”
So in other words, duty, justice, mercy—morality words—are basically logical transformations that transform the state of the universe (or a particular circumstance) into an ought statement.
Just as we derive valid conlcusions from premises using logical statements, we derive moral obligations from premises using moral statements.
The term ‘utility funcion’ seems less novel now (novel as in, a departure from traditional ethics).
Not quite. They don’t go all the way to completing an ought statement, as this doesn’t solve the Is/Ought dichotomy. They are logical transformations that make applying our values to the universe much easier.
“X is unjust” doesn’t quite create an ought statement of “Don’t do X”. If I place value on justice, that statement helps me evaluate X. I may decide that some other consideration trumps justice. I may decide to steal bread to feed my starving family, even if I view the theft as unjust.
This is my view.