Socratesâ Death and the Invention of Morality
In: History of Philosophy & Logical AnalysisSearch for other papers by Javier Echeñique in
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Abstract
I argue for the thesis that Socrates was the inventor of morality. I define morality as a kind of practical standpoint, and argue that Socrates was the first to draw attention to the characteristic marks of the moral standpoint: what I call the Decisiveness of Moral Reasons, on the one hand, and other-regardingness and the use of substantive moral principles, on the other. Socrates characterised the moral standpoint, however, in the course of justifying his own most vital decisions. Accordingly, I also argue that in order to invent morality qua practical standpoint, Socrates had to establish its practicality, and that given some Socratic assumptions he was entitled to do so simply by acting in ways that exhibited practical adherence to the Decisiveness of Moral Reasons. Finally, I argue that given the supreme demandingness of the moral standpoint a complete demonstration of its practicality could only be achieved by Socratesâ act of knowingly causing his own death.
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Socratesâ Death and the Invention of Morality
In: History of Philosophy & Logical AnalysisSearch for other papers by Javier Echeñique in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Abstract
I argue for the thesis that Socrates was the inventor of morality. I define morality as a kind of practical standpoint, and argue that Socrates was the first to draw attention to the characteristic marks of the moral standpoint: what I call the Decisiveness of Moral Reasons, on the one hand, and other-regardingness and the use of substantive moral principles, on the other. Socrates characterised the moral standpoint, however, in the course of justifying his own most vital decisions. Accordingly, I also argue that in order to invent morality qua practical standpoint, Socrates had to establish its practicality, and that given some Socratic assumptions he was entitled to do so simply by acting in ways that exhibited practical adherence to the Decisiveness of Moral Reasons. Finally, I argue that given the supreme demandingness of the moral standpoint a complete demonstration of its practicality could only be achieved by Socratesâ act of knowingly causing his own death.
| All Time | Past 365 days | Past 30 Days | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abstract Views | 14 | 14 | 14 |
| Full Text Views | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| PDF Views & Downloads | 0 | 0 | 0 |
