Murdoch On The Sovereignty of Good

voiUxi r, No.
q
x.v zor
Murdoch on the
Sovereignty of Good
Kieran Setiya
University of Pittsburgh
zor Kieiun Seliyu
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T
noUon sni is .s wiii-iNowN .s .Nv iioUni in Biilish hilos-
ohy since rqjo, Iiis Muiuoch's imucl on lhe hilosohicul
felus in vhich she viole is huiu lo mule oul. She is cileu us un
infuence Ly Coiu Diumonu, John McDovell, Hiluiy Pulnum, Chuiles
Tuyloi, Beinuiu Williums, unu Susun Wolf.
1
Bul she is iuiely menlioneu
in iecenl voil. Theie musl Le muny moiul hilosoheis vho huve
nevei ieuu, oi huiuly lhoughl uLoul, hei Lesl unu mosl syslemulic es-
suys, in Thc Sc.crcignt cf Ccc!. The ieusons foi lhis neglecl uie vuiious.
Muiuoch lefl hei ucuuemic osilion ul Cxfoiu in rq6. She sloeu
uLlishing in hilosohy jouinuls. Anu she iouuceu fevei essuys of
uny linu, foi lhe mosl uil viiling novels insleuu.
Along vilh lhese sociologicul fucls, lheie uie uimcullies inleinul
lo Muiuoch's voil. Hei viiling cun Le ouque, hei vievs oLscuie. Il
is nol eusy lo iuenlify uigumenls, if she hus lhem, oi cleui oLjeclions
lo oosing vievs. Anu vheie ve uo fnu oLjeclions unu uigumenls,
lheii luigels oflen seem uuleu oi iiielevunl. The Iueu of Peifeclion' is
fiumeu us u ciilique of Sluuil Humshiie's Thcught un! Acticn, vhich
lhese uuys is suiely ieuu unu cileu less lhun Muiuoch heiself.
2
Ryle's
ullegeu Lehuviouiism is in lhe Luclgiounu. no longei u live concein.
In moiul lheoiy, Muiuoch's inleiloculois uie R. M. Huie, vhose
infuence hus ulso vuneu, ulong vilh cuiiculuies of exislenliulism
unu of Kunl. The iesull is lhul Muiuoch is nol cileu oi uiscusseu Ly
mosl conlemoiuiy voil in moiul sychology, u loic vhose cuiienl
incuinulion oves much lo hei.
3
She is, if unylhing, less visiLle in
moiul eislemology, in lhe meluhysics of moiuls, unu in lhe sluuy of
iuclicul ieuson.
If Muiuoch is lo seul moie uuuiLly lo conlemoiuiy hilosoheis,
so lhul she cunnol Le ignoieu, hei iueus musl Le iefiumeu us
inleivenlions in exisling uisules, hei uigumenls musl Le iecoveieu,
r. See Diumonu rqqj, McDovell rq;q, Pulnum zooz, Tuyloi rq8q, Williums
rq8j, Wolf rqqo.
z. Ciiginully uLlisheu in rq6, The Iueu of Peifeclion' is lhe fisl essuy in The
Sc.crcignt cf Ccc! (Muiuoch rq;o). The olheis uie Cn 'Cou' unu 'Coou'' unu
The Soveieignly of Coou Cvei Clhei Concels'. I vill cile lhese essuys us
lhey ueui in lhe Lool.
. Cn Muiuoch unu moiul sychology, see Bioucles zorz. 6n.;;.
Imprint
Philosophers
iiin.N si+iv. Murdoch on the Sovereignty of Good
iniiosoinins' ixiniN+ z voi. r, No. q (x.v zor)
1. How to Be an Ethical Rationalist
In my eihus unconvenlionul usuge, elhicul iulionulism is lhe iojecl
of ueiiving slunuuius of iuclicul ieuson fiom lhe nuluie of ugency oi
lhe vill, us lhe cuucily lo ucl foi ieusons.
5
This iojecl is elhicul in
lhe viuesl sense. The iulionulisl neeu nol mule cluims foi moiulily us
u souice of ieusons oi foi lhe iulionulily of concein foi olheis. Bul his
suLjecl is iuclicul. hov ve shoulu live unu ucl. His lieulmenl of lhis
suLjecl is u foim of iulionulism in lhul il geneiulizes u fumiliui ieuuing
of Kunl in Crcun!ncr| III.
6
Cn lhis ieuuing, il Lelongs lo ugenls, us
such, lo ucl unuei lhe iueu of fieeuom' unu so lo Le iesonsive lo lhe
moiul luv. Nol lhul eveiy ugenl uoes iesonu, Lul lhe ioensily lo uo
so is conluineu in lhe cuucily lo ucl. Ils ieulizulion is lhus un usecl of
iuclicul iulionulily. The geneiulizulion of lhis uiouch leuves ioom
foi secies of iulionulism on vhich ve ucl inlenlionully nol unuei lhe
iueu of fieeuom Lul unuei lhe guise of lhe goou,
7
oi on vhich ve uim
ul self-lnovleuge oi lhe sulisfuclion of uesiie, so lhul il is lhe oLjecl
of iuclicul ieuson lo uchieve lhe goou, lo guin self-unueislunuing, oi
lo gel vhulevei you vunl.
8
In un ulleinulive iuiom, elhicul iulionulism
is conslilulivism' uLoul iuclicul ieuson, vheie lhe conslilulive viev
neeu nol Le Kunliun in iesull. The slunuuius lhul fov fiom lhe nuluie
of ugency muy Le ones of self-inleiesl oi meuns-enu emciency, nol
moiul uuly.
Whulevei ils secifc conlenl, lhe iulionulisl iojecl moves fiom
meluhysicul iemises lo noimulive conclusions, fiom lhe meluhysics
of ugency lo lhe noims of iuclicul ieuson. A cenliul lusl foi elhicul
iulionulisls is lo exluin lhis liunsilion. Hov uo ve gel fiom lhe is of
j. This seclion uiuvs on Seliyu zorz. rjzr unu on Seliyu foilhcoming, ils
fiumevoil ueiives fiom Seliyu zoo;.
6. Kunl r;8j.
;. In lhul oui uclion sliiles us us goou in some iesecl, foi 'lhe guise of lhe goou'
see Vellemun rqqz.
8. See Reasons without Rationalism (Seliyu zoo;. rj), ciling Koisguuiu rqq6,
Ruillon rqq;, Vellemun rq8q, zooo, Williums rq;q, Dieiei rqq;. To lhis lisl,
one mighl uuu Koisguuiu zooq, Ruz rqqq, zorr, Voglei zooz, unu, on one
inleiielulion, Smilh zooq, zoro.
unu hei conclusions muue cleui. Wilh noluLle excelions, fev huve
lulen u lhis lusl, lheie is u lol lo Le uone. In lhis essuy, I liy lo
mule iogiess heie, lo Liing oul lhe foice unu cogency of Muiuoch's
lhinling Ly ieluling il lo un issue lhul is ceiluinly live. lhul of elhicul
iulionulism unu lhe queslion, Why Le moiul`' My uim is nol lo
evuluule Muiuoch's vievs Lul lo mule lhem luusiLle, inlelligiLle, unu,
so fui us ossiLle, uigumenlulively shui. Whul emeiges is, I Lelieve,
u concelion of gieul oiiginulily unu lheoielicul ovei. If il is viong,
il is viong in inleiesling vuys, lo suy vhul lhey uie lies oulsiue my
iesenl scoe.
This essuy hus foui muin uils. In lhe fisl, I inliouuce lhe iueu of
elhicul iulionulism unu ielule il lo lhe ioLlem of moiul ieusons. In lhe
seconu, I sel oul Muiuoch's sliiling cluim lhul liue vision occusions
iighl conuucl' unu exluin ils imoilunce foi lhe iulionulisl ueLule
(Muiuoch rq;o. 6). Though ils liulh voulu Le signifcunl, Muiuoch's
cluim is ioLlemulic. Il seems ossiLle, of-hunu, foi someone lo
shuie lhe vision lhul occusions iighl conuucl' vilhoul ucling vell. In
seclion lhiee, I shov hov Muiuoch unliciules lhis chuige Ly liucing
il lo u uefeclive lheoiy of concels. Thul lhe lheoiy goes viong is
lhe moiul of hei mosl fumous exumle, lhul of M unu D.
4
I go on lo
exloie lhe enlunglemenl of fucl unu vulue in Muiuoch's viev, hov
il uifeis fiom lhe ueul lo lhicl moiul concels', unu hov il uiuvs
on u Plulonic lheoiy of concel-ossession. Seclion foui lhen luins lo
lhe imuge of lhe Coou us u liunscenuenl mugnelic cenlie' (Muiuoch
rq;o. ;), voiling lhiough lhe ouu mix of emiiicul sychology,
moiul exhoilulion, unu secululive meluhysics in Thc Sc.crcignt
cf Ccc!. Muiuoch's lheoiy of concels, inliouuceu in lhe fisl essuy
of Sc.crcignt unu ueveloeu in lhe seconu, ioviues lhe Lusis foi u
moiul uigumenl vhose conclusion is meluhysicul. lhul lhe Coou is
nol, uflei ull, illusoiy. If lhis is iighl, Muiuoch's voil hus imliculions
nol only foi iuclicul ieuson unu moiul meluhysics Lul foi lhe scoe
unu umLilion of moiul hilosohy.
. Muiuoch rq;o. r6z.
iniiosoinins' ixiniN+ voi. r, No. q (x.v zor)
oi lenu lovuius, un uim lhul lhey muy nol ieulize even vhen lhey
succeeu in ucling foi ieusons.
11
The uchievemenl of lhis uim uoes
nol soil Lehuvioui us inlenlionul oi nol. il ofeis un iueul lo vhich
inlenlionul uclion muy oi muy nol confoim. Il is nol u conuilion of
ucling foi ieusons lhul one hil lhe luigel in queslion, only lhul one uim
ul uoing so. This sliucluie ullovs foi uefeclive uclion in lhe fiumevoil
of elhicul iulionulism. lhe cuucily lo ucl foi ieusons cun Le exeiciseu
imeifeclly, in vuys lhul uo nol fully uchieve ils enu.
12
The iueu of un uim oi funclion lhul fguies in lhe iulionulisl
uigumenl neeu nol Le mysleiious. Since iulionulisls hoe foi slunuuius
of iuclicul ieuson lhul uly lo ugenls, us such, ieguiuless of lheii
Liologicul foim, lhey uo nol ueul lo secifcully Liologicul funclion.
13

Noi uo lhey ueul lo u uilicului inlenlion oi uesiie. Insleuu lhey luin
lo uisosilions lhul conslilule ugency oi lo iules unu iinciles lhul
guiue us if ve ucl foi ieusons ul ull. Theie is ioom lo Le fexiLle heie.
If ve lhinl of lhe uim us fxeu Ly u uisosilion of eveiy ossiLle ugenl,
ve enu u vilh vhul is culleu inleinulism uLoul ieusons'. ugenls
huve lhe cuucily lo Le moveu Ly uny ieuson lo vhich lhey uie suLjecl.
(Moie on lhis Lelov.) Alleinulively, lo Le un ugenl is lo upprcxinutc
lhe ossession of uisosilions vhose luigel is lheieLy consliluleu us
lhe uim of ugenls, us such.
14
When ugenls full shoil of full ossession,
inleinulism fuils. Eilhei vuy, one cun munifesl lhe uisosilions lhul
conslilule ugency, lo lhe exlenl lhul one hus lhem, eilhei imeifeclly
oi in full. Inlenlionul uclion is lhe iouucl of such uisosilions, vhich
sel u luigel foi ugenls lo meel in vhul lhey uo.
The seconu ussumlion of lhe iulionulisl uigumenl is vhul I huve
culleu Excellence'. Il is voilh sliessing hov mouesl lhis iincile
is. Nol only uoes il nol iequiie lhe moie conlenlious elemenls of
rr. Ioi lhis iequiiemenl, fiumeu us un oLjeclion lo Vellemun, see Cluil zoor.
j8r8j.
rz. Cn lhe uuienl uimcully heie, see Ruillon rqq;. , Koisguuiu zooq. Ch. 8.
r. Smilh zoro. rzj.
r. The iole of uioximulion is emhusizeu in Dieiei rqq;. 8qqr, q;8, unu
Smilh zooq. 66q.
vhul il is lo Le un ugenl, lo huve u vill oi lhe cuucily lo ucl foi ieusons,
lo lhe cught of iuclicul iulionulily`
In one of lhe mosl exlicil uevelomenls of elhicul iulionulism, J.
Duviu Vellemun iesenls inlenlionul uclion us huving u conslilulive
uim', vhich is self-lnovleuge oi self-unueislunuing.
9
Moie iecenlly,
Chiisline Koisguuiu uesciiLes lhe uim of ugency us self-conslilulion'.
10

In voiling oul lhe Lusis of lhe iulionulisl uiouch, ve cun geneiulize
lhese cluims. Cn euch uccounl, ugency is, in efecl, u funclionul oi
leleologicul linu, uefneu Ly un enu oi goul. This schemu cun uly
lo olhei vievs. Il mighl Le in lhe nuluie of ugenls lo uim ul eifecl
uulonomy, ul meuns-enu coheience, oi ul lhe highesl goou. Cnce ve
lhinl of ugency in lhese leims, ve cun liuce lhe ivolul move of lhe
elhicul iulionulisl lo u funclion uigumenl insiieu Ly Aiislolle. Recull
lhul, foi Aiislolle, humun Leings huve u uefning funclion oi uclivily,
vhich is lhe use of ieuson, unu vhulevei hus u funclion fnus ils goou
in eifoiming lhul funclion vell. Theie uie slunuuiu oLjeclions. Is
il iighl lo seul of u humun funclion` Does lhe uigumenl confule
vhul is goou fcr un I vilh Leing goou as un I` Even if lhey uie sounu,
hovevei, lhese queslions uo nol louch lhe iincile ve neeu.
ExciiiiNci. When Is huve u uefning funclion oi uclivily,
u goou I is one lhul eifoims lhul uclivily oi funclion vell.
If vhul il is lo Le un ugenl is lo uim ul uulonomy, oi self-lnovleuge,
oi vhulevei, vhul il is lo Le goou us un ugenl is lo uim ul lhese lhings
efeclively. Since iuclicul ieuson is lhe viilue of ugency, us such, one is
lo lhul exlenl iuclicully iulionul. The iulionulisl uccounl goes lhiough.
We cun sell oul lhe uemunus of lhis uigumenl moie slovly. Iiisl,
il ielies on u ceiluin sliucluie in lhe funclion of ugency. nol jusl lhul
ugenls uie uefneu Ly un uclivily uoing lhings foi ieusons Lul lhul
ugency hus u luigel, lile huiness oi meuns-enu coheience, of vhich
il cun full shoil. Il Lelongs lo lhe nuluie of ugenls lo Le uiiecleu Ly,
q. See, eseciully, lhe inliouuclion lo Vellemun zooo.
ro. In Koisguuiu zooq.
iniiosoinins' ixiniN+ voi. r, No. q (x.v zor)
is nol lo iesuose lhe liulh of iulionulism, one cun uccel il even
if one uouLls lhul lhe nuluie of ugency is u souice of iulionul noims.
If slunuuius foi Leing goou qua ugenl uo nol fov fiom lhe nuluie of
ugency, us such, lheii giounus musl lie elsevheie, eihus nol in lhe
funclion of unylhing. Slill, lhey uie slunuuius of iuclicul ieuson.
Schemulicully, lhen, lhe uigumenl foi elhicul iulionulism lules lhis
foim. Iiisl, ugency is uefneu Ly u funclion oi uclivily, un uim oi enu
lo vhich il is uiiecleu, jusl us such lhough il is nol u conuilion of
ucling foi ieusons lhul one ieulize lhis uim. Il follovs Ly Excellence
lhul lo Le goou us un ugenl is lo uchieve lhe uim Ly vhich ugency is
uefneu. Piuclicul iulionulily consisls in Leing goou qua ugenl. So lo Le
iuclicully iulionul is lo uchieve lhe uim of ugency. Since il is u uefecl
of iuclicul ieuson lo Le unmoveu Ly u ieuson lo ucl, lhis conclusion
vill consliuin vhul lheie is ieuson foi us lo uo. If you cun uchieve lhe
uim oi enu of ugency vhile Leing inuifeienl lo lhe fucl lhul p, lhis fucl
is nol u iuclicul ieuson. Iinully, if lhe uim is fxeu Ly lhe uisosilions
of uny ossiLle ugenl, ve cun ueiive u moie fumiliui consliuinl.
IN+inN.iisx .noU+ Ri.soNs. If lhe fucl lhul p is u ieuson
foi A lo , A is cuuLle of Leing moveu lo Ly lhe Lelief
lhul p.
Since eveiy ugenl is uisoseu lo uchieve lhe uim oi enu of ugency, us
such, unu so lo Le iuclicully iulionul, eveiy ugenl hus lhe cuucily lo
iesonu lo lhe ieusons foi hei lo ucl.
The inleiesl of elhicul iulionulism, inleinulisl oi olheivise, lies
iimuiily in lvo lhings. Cne ueuis lo Le u viilue. Elhicul iulionulisls
cun ussimilule lhe meluhysics unu eislemology of iuclicul ieuson
lo lhe funclionul use of goou'. The iueu of u ieuson lo ucl is, on lhis
concelion, no moie mysleiious lhun lhul of u goou lhief oi u goou
clocl.
17
The olhei lhieulens lo Le u vice. By lucing conuilions on vhul
lheie is ieuson foi us lo uo lhul Linu il lo lhe nuluie of ugency, elhicul
r;. Ioi meluhysicul unu eislemic uigumenls foi elhicul iulionulism, oi some-
lhing lile il, see Vellemun zooo. r;q unu Smilh zoro.
Aiislolle's funclion uigumenl, il uoes nol uioil lo Le u geneiul
uccounl of gcc!. Thul goou' hus u funclionul use is quile consislenl
vilh ils Leing useu in olhei vuys, loo, us vhen ve seul of goou
oulcomes', vhul is goou foi' un inuiviuuul, oi even vhul is goou'
sinp|icitcr.
15
The uliculions of Excellence uie innocenl enough. If lhe
funclion of clocls is lo lell lhe lime, u goou clocl uoes so Lolh legiLly
unu ieliuLly. If lhe uefning uclivily of u lhief is lo sleul olheis' ioeily,
u goou lhief is one vho gels uvuy vilh lhe lool.
Pulling lhe fisl lvo sles logelhei. vhen lhe nuluie of u linu is
uefneu in uisosilionul leims, unu vheie il hus u luigel of vhich il cun
full shoil, lo Le goou of lhul linu is lo munifesl lhul uisosilion in full.
Il is nol enough foi lhe uliculion of Excellence lhul lhe uisosilion
cun fuil lo Le exeiciseu ullogelhei. lheie musl Le such u lhing us
ils imeifecl oi incomlele munifeslulion. Wheie un oLjecl meels
lhese conuilions, il cun oeiule vell oi Luuly us lhe linu of lhing il
is. Thus, if Leing un ugenl is Leing uisoseu lo u ceiluin enu, ul leusl
Ly uioximulion, unu one cun exeicise lhis uisosilion, lo lhe exlenl
lhul one hus il, moie oi less vell, lo Le goou us un ugenl is fully lo
uchieve lhul enu.
16
In ils fnul sle, lhe uigumenl iuenlifes iuclicul iulionulily in
lhe sense lhul involves, Lul is nol exhuusleu Ly, iesonuing lo
ieusons vilh Leing goou qua ugenl. This iemise uiuvs on
u comelling lhoughl. lhul juugemenls of iuclicul ieuson uie
ussessmenls of ugency, nol some olhei usecl of oui lives. To suy lhis
rj. Comuie lhe uiscussions in Ceuch rqj6 unu Seliyu zoo;. Puil Tvo, z.
r6. Does Excellence uly lo lhe uisosilions of oLjecls lhul uie nol uilifucls oi
living lhings` In iincile, yes, Lul only vhen lhe conuilions in lhe lexl uie
mel. If u mugnel is Ly nuluie uisoseu lo oiienl ilself in ceiluin vuys, unu
lhis uisosilion is oeiulive vhen il oiienls ilself in rcugh| lhe iighl vuy, il
is funclioning vell us u mugnel so fui us il munifesls ils uisosilion lo lhe
highesl uegiee. If lhis sounus ouu, lhe ioLlem is nol vilh lhe uliculion of
Excellence Lul vilh lhe concelion of mugnels on vhich il iesls. Mugnels uie
uefneu Ly lheii inliinsic ioeilies, nol Ly uisosilions lhul lhey munifesl
moie oi less vell. If lheie uie hysicul linus lhul uo huve u suiluLle nuluie, il
vill mule sense lo evuluule lheii funclioning lhough uoing so vill nol huve
imliculions foi iuclicul ieuson, us lhe funclion of ugency uoes.
iniiosoinins' ixiniN+ j voi. r, No. q (x.v zor)
hel, lhul fuiling lo uo so is moiully viong. Alleinulively, ve mighl
ueul lo lhe fucl lhul il voulu Le goou lo hel. Il is lhis fucl lhul
juslifes uclion, nol lhe Luie fucl of humun neeu. Il is nol cleui, hovevei,
hov much ve guin Ly lhis move. Theie uie lhiee uimcullies. Iiisl, hov
cun lhe fucl lhul someone is in neeu mule il viong nol lo hel lhem,
oi goou lo uo so, if lhis fucl is nol, Ly ilself, u ieuson lo hel` Seconu,
Ly luining lo fucls uLoul iighl unu viong, oi vhul is goou, ve foigo
lhe meluhysicul unu eislemic viilues of elhicul iulionulism. These
fucls iuise lhe usuul uzzles. lhey cile usecls of iuclicul noimulivily
lhul huve nol Leen uLsoiLeu Ly lhe funclionul use of goou'. Iinully,
even such louueu ieusons luce uemunus on lhe lheoiy of uclion lhul
vill nol Le eusy lo meel. The icluie of ugenls on vhich lhey ucl unuei
lhe guise of goou is hisloiicully infuenliul. Il ueiives fiom Plulo unu
Aiislolle, unu il eisisls in moie iecenl voil.
19
Bul il is conlioveisiul,
unu I huve uigueu uguinsl il, ul lenglh, elsevheie.
20
In shoil. vhile il
muy Le liue lhul ieiesenlulions of lhe goou uie essenliully iuclicul,
ve cun suy vhul il is lo Le un ugenl vilhoul lhem. The uisosilion lo
Le moveu Ly ueuiunces of lhe goou is nol one ve musl ossess oi
uioximule in oiuei lo ucl foi ieusons ul ull. If lhis is iighl, il is nol u
uefecl of ugency, unu so nol u uefecl of iuclicul ieuson, in iulionulisl
leims, lo Le inuifeienl lo lhe goou. The coiiesonuing cluims uie
even moie uuLious foi moiul iighl unu viong. Why shoulu ugency Le
imossiLle vilhoul secifcully moiul lhoughl`
The ushol of lhese iefeclions is lhul elhicul iulionulism unimules
one veision of lhe queslion, Why Le moiul`' Il ioviues lhe Lusis
foi u scelicul chullenge lo lhe geneiulily of moiul ieusons. Cn lhe
fuce of il, ve cun iesisl lhis chullenge only Ly uisuling lhe uigumenl
foi iulionulism oi Ly ueiiving moiul ieusons fiom lhe nuluie of lhe
vill. Since lhe seconu lusl lools uimcull, ve muy Le lemleu Ly lhe
fisl. Bul lhis is equully huiu, foi vhul lhe uigumenl ussumes is veul.
While muny uouLl lhul ugenls huve uulonomy oi self-lnovleuge
rq. Ioi vuiiulions, see Ruillon rqq;, Ruz rqqq, zorr, TenenLuum zoo;.
zo. In Puil Cne of Reasons without Rationalism (Seliyu zoo;) unu moie iecenlly in
Seliyu zoro.
iulionulism cieules u ioLlem foi lhe geneiulily of moiul ieusons. Il
is lhis ioLlem lhul ioviues lhe conlexl foi my inleiielulion of Iiis
Muiuoch. I senu lhe iesl of lhe seclion selling il oul.
Suose, lo Legin vilh, lhul A is confionleu vilh u ciicumslunce
in vhich someone is in seiious neeu, unu lhe iighl lhe lhing lo uo
is lo ofei lhem hel. Il voulu Le moiully viong lo ignoie lheii
uimcully, unu lhe suciifce involveu in unsveiing il is nol exlieme.
We mighl Le lemleu lo concluue lhul A should ofei hel, ull lhings
consiueieu lhul lhis is vhul he hus mosl ieuson lo uo. Al uny iule, if
moiul ieusons uie culegoiicul, if lhey uly lo eveiyone, A hus some
ieuson lo hel lhe eison he fnus in neeu. Suose, hovevei, lhul A
is comlelely unmoveu Ly lhis. He lnovs vhul lhe ciicumslunce is.
lhul lhe neeu is seiious unu lhe cosl is mouesl. (Lel us sel usiue, foi
nov, Leliefs uLoul iighl unu viong.) Bul lhis hus no imucl on him.
If ve hoe lo uefenu lhe conviclion lhul A hus ieuson lo hel, vhul
cun ve suy` In lhe iulionulisl fiumevoil, oui olions uie limileu. We
coulu hoe lo shov lhul A is iuclicully iiiulionul, lhul he cunnol fully
uchieve lhe uim oi enu of ugency, us such. Bul lhis umounls lo u heioic
lusl. lhul of ueiiving, fiom lhe meluhysics of ugency, u sensilivily
lo moiul conceins. We neeu un uccounl of lhe uim of ugency, us such,
on vhich il cunnol Le mel Ly un ugenl lile A. The funclion of ugency
cunnol Le lhe sulisfuclion of uesiie, ieguiuless of ils oLjecl, il cunnol Le
uulonomy oi fouiishing, conceiveu in vuys lhul ullov foi inuifeience
lo olheis. Il musl Lelong lo lhe nuluie of lhe vill, us lhe cuucily lo ucl
foi ieusons, lhul ils uims mule one susceliLle lo olheis' neeus. Some
vill uccel lhis cluim, hoing lo ueiive fiom lhe conslilulive uim of
uclion some commilmenl lo lhe moiul luv.
18
Bul mosl huve uouLls.
Theie is u ioLlem of moiul ieusons on lhe iulionulisl uiouch.
Il mighl seem, so fui, lhul lhe ioLlem cun Le conluineu. We huve
focuseu on ieusons lhul consisl in lhe neeus of olheis, usling vhelhei
one musl iesonu lo such neeus in uchieving lhe uim oi enu of ugency,
us such. In uoing so, ve muy huve ignoieu lhe moie sulienl ieuson lo
r8. Mosl noluLly, Koisguuiu rqq6, zooq.
iniiosoinins' ixiniN+ 6 voi. r, No. q (x.v zor)
unu moiul efoil. [.| Cne is oflen comelleu ulmosl
uulomulicully Ly vhul one can see. (Muiuoch rq;o. j6)
The luce of choice is ceiluinly u uifeienl one if ve lhinl
in leims of u voilu vhich is ccnpu|si.c| iesenl lo lhe
vill, unu lhe uisceinmenl unu exloiulion of vhich is
u slov Lusiness. [.| If I ullenu ioeily, I vill huve no
choices unu lhis is lhe ullimule conuilion lo Le uimeu ul.
(Muiuoch rq;o. 8)
In lhe sluil foimululion ul lhe heuil of lhe folloving essuy, ieulism
[.| is u linu of inlellecluul uLilily lo eiceive vhul is liue, vhich is
uulomulicully ul lhe sume lime u suiession of self [.| liue vision
occusions iighl conuucl' (Muiuoch rq;o. 6).
Thul Muiuoch mules lhese sliiling cluims is somelimes iecognizeu.
Whul is less vell unueisloou is vhy lhey mullei. We cun Liing lhis oul
Ly fnuing lhe uisuleu concelion of choice in lhe Luclgiounu of
seclion r. The icluie of fieeuom us uulonomy, nol ueleimineu Ly lhe
luin fucls of one's ciicumslunce, is shuieu Ly iulionulisls of uifeienl
linus, Ly insliumenlulisls unu Kunliuns ulile. The ioLlem of moiul
ieusons coulu Le solveu Ly giving il u. In iuising lhis ioLlem, ve
imugineu someone vho is fully uvuie of lhe ciicumslunce lhul iequiies
him lo ofei hel, of seiious neeu unu mouesl cosl, Lul vho iemuins
unmoveu. The lusl lhul looleu uimcull, vilhin lhe confnes of elhicul
iulionulism, vus lo exluin vhy he should Le moveu, vhy lhese fucls
ioviue him vilh ieusons lo ucl. We musl liuce lhe necessily of Leing
moveu lo lhe nuluie of lhe vill. Muiuoch's inleivenlion is lo fnu
un ulleinulive viev. Ioi Muiuoch, lhe necessily of Leing moveu Ly
moiul ieusons lies nol in lhe nuluie of lhe vill Lul in lhe molivulionul
imoil of cognilion. Desile ueuiunces, lhe ugenl ve imugineu is
imossiLle. Cne cunnol fuil lo Le moveu Ly un uuequule concelion
of lhe fucls lhul iequiie u iesonse. liue vision occusions iighl
conuucl'. Theie is lhus no neeu lo enlei lhe muze of olions in vhich
ve gol losl Lefoie.
us un essenliul uim, lel ulone confoimily vilh lhe moiul luv, mosl
ussume lhul lhey uie uisoseu lo lule meuns lo lheii enus. lo Le
meuns-enu coheienl in lheii inlenlions oi uesiies.
21
Even lhis cluim
is enough foi lhe elhicul iulionulisl. Theie uie uisosilions ve musl
uioximule in Leing ugenls, unu lhey cun Le cusl us uisosilions lo
confoim lo un iueul. To Le goou qua ugenl is lo meel lhis iueul unu so
lo Le iuclicully iulionul.
The issues suiiounuing elhicul iulionulism uie comliculeu, unu I
cunnol hoe lo iesolve lhem heie.
22
My uim hus Leen moie mouesl.
lo shov vhul is comelling uLoul lhe iulionulisl viev unu lo mule
lhe olions vilh vhich il iesenls us sumcienlly liouLling lhul ve uie
villing lo lool foi unolhei vuy oul. We seem lo confionl u uilemmu.
Civen lhe uigumenl foi elhicul iulionulism, ueny lhe geneiulily of
moiul ieusons oi ueiive lhem fiom lhe nuluie of lhe vill. Il is in seuich
of u fuilhei olion lhul ve luin lo Muiuoch's Lool.
2. True Vision and Right Conduct
In ieuuing Thc Sc.crcignt cf Ccc!, il vill iove useful lo sluil ul lhe enu
of lhe fisl essuy, nol lhe Leginning. Whul Muiuoch voils lovuius in
The Iueu of Peifeclion' is un ulleinulive lo lhe icluie of fieeuom on
vhich lhe ugenl chooses his ieusons in leims of, unu uflei suiveying,
lhe oiuinuiy fucls vhich lie oen lo eveiyone' (Muiuoch rq;o.
). Il is lhis icluie lhul seives us common giounu foi hei seveiul
unlugonisls Lehuviouiisl, exislenliulisl, unu Kunliun. Anu il is one
lhul she iejecls.
I suggesl [lhul| ve inliouuce inlo lhe icluie lhe iueu
of attention, oi looling [.| I cun only choose vilhin
lhe voilu I cun see, in lhe moiul sense of 'see' vhich
imlies lhul cleui vision is lhe iesull of moiul imuginulion
zr. This lhoughl is exlicil in Dieiei rqq;. qj8, Voglei zooz. rj6, unu Smilh
zooq. 66;.
zz. In Seliyu zoo;, zoro, foilhcoming, I uefenu u minimulisl concelion of ugen-
cy on vhich lhe iulionulisl uigumenl cunnol Legin.
iniiosoinins' ixiniN+ ; voi. r, No. q (x.v zor)
To exluin un uclion ve ieguiu us viiluous, ve lyicully
foimulule u moie oi less comlex chuiucleiizulion of
lhe uclion's ciicumslunces us ve lule lhe ugenl lo huve
conceiveu lhem. Why shoulu il nol Le lhe cuse [.|
lhul lhe ugenl's concelion of lhe siluulion, ioeily
unueisloou, sumces lo shov us lhe fuvouiuLle lighl
in vhich his uclion ueuieu lo him` [.| Theie muy
seem lo Le u uimcully. mighl nol unolhei eison huve
exuclly lhe sume concelion of lhe ciicumslunces, Lul
see no ieuson lo ucl us lhe viiluous eison uoes` If so,
uuveiling lo lhul concelion of lhe siluulion cunnol, uflei
ull, sumce lo shov us lhe fuvouiuLle lighl in vhich lhe
viiluous eison suv his uclion. [.| We cun evuue lhis
uigumenl Ly uenying ils iemise. Ly luling u seciul viev
of lhe viiluous eison's concelion of lhe ciicumslunces,
uccoiuing lo vhich il cunnol Le shuieu Ly someone
vho sees no ieuson lo ucl us lhe viiluous eison uoes.
(McDovell rq;8. 8o)
The viiluous eison's concelion of lhe ciicumslunce incluues lhe
ieusons foi vhich he ucls foi inslunce, lhul someone is shy unu
sensilive' unu so neeus lo Le ul ul euse (McDovell rq;8. 8j6). Il uoes
nol cluim lhul lhey uie ieusons, oi lheie voulu Le nolhing seciul'
uLoul lhe viev on vhich il cunnol Le shuieu Ly someone vho sees
no ieuson lo ucl us lhe viiluous eison uoes'. Cn u mouesl ieuuing,
lhe cluim is meiely lhul lnovleuge of lhe ciicumslunce can molivule
uclion vilhoul lhe neeu foi u uesiie lhul is nol ilself exluineu, unu
muue inlelligiLle, Ly lhis lnovleuge.
25
Bul vhul is ucluully suiu is
moie umLilious. lhul lhe ielevunl concelions uie nol so much us
ossesseu excel Ly lhose vhose vills uie infuenceu uioiiulely'
(McDovell rq;8. 8;). Whul ve ueui lo huve is lhen un inslunce of
Hyei-Inleinulism.
zj. Cn lhe molivulion of uclion Ly Lelief ulone, see Nugel rq;o. z;o, Wulluce
rqqo. ;, Seliyu zoo;. roo6.
Accoiuing lo u simle veision of lhis iueu.
Hviin-IN+inN.iisx. If lhe fucl lhul p is u ieuson foi A lo
, unu A lnovs lhul p, A is moveu lo in iooilion lo ils
slienglh us u ieuson.
Muiuoch's fnul viev is moie comlex. Bul lhe simle foimululion
Liings oul some ciuciul oinls. Iiisl, in lhe usuul conliusl Lelveen
juugemenl unu exislence inleinulism, Lelveen cluims uLoul lhe
molivulionul signifcunce of lhinling lhul lheie is ieuson lo unu
molivulionul conuilions on lhe exislence of ieusons, Muiuoch's
inleinulism fulls on lhe siue of exislence.
23
Il follovs fiom somelhing's
bcing u ieuson lo , uccoiuing lo lhe hyei-inleinulisl, lhul if one
lnovs lhe fucl lhul is u ieuson, one is suiluLly moveu. We neeu nol
uuu lhe fuilhei conuilion lhul one Lelieves lhis fucl lo Le u ieuson.
Seconu, Hyei-Inleinulism is vuslly sliongei lhun Inleinulism uLoul
Reusons. Il is nol jusl lhe cuucily lo Le moveu Lul ucluul molivulion
lhul follovs fiom lnovleuge of ieusons. Iinully, lhe liulh of Hyei-
Inleinulism uoes nol lell us vhul lheie is ieuson lo uo. Il uoes nol imly
lhul fucls uLoul lhe neeus of olhei eole ioviue us vilh ieusons lo
ucl. Ils iole is nol lo suoil un uigumenl foi lhul cluim Lul lo ievenl
il fiom Leing lhieuleneu Ly elhicul iulionulism. If fucls of lhis linu
juslify uclion, il follovs lhul ve uie moveu Ly lhe ielevunl Leliefs. We
neeu nol ueiive lheii slulus us ieusons, consiueiulions Ly vhich ve
uie moveu insofui us ve uie iulionul, fiom lhe uim of ugency, us such.
Iionicully, Ly lighlening lhe conneclion Lelveen cognilion unu choice,
ve mule lhis conneclion in one vuy eusiei lo uefenu. il neeu nol go
lhiough lhe meluhysics of lhe vill.
24
A similui lhoughl cun Le founu in un euily uei Ly John McDovell,
Aie Moiul Requiiemenls Hyolhelicul Imeiulives`'.
z. Ioi lhis uislinclion, see Duivull rq8. j.
z. This cluim is quulifeu lovuius lhe enu of seclion , vheie I seculule on
Muiuoch's concelion of ugency.
iniiosoinins' ixiniN+ 8 voi. r, No. q (x.v zor)
inuifeienl is loo seciul lo Le Lelieveu. Il is u fucl of life lhul eole uie
unmoveu even Ly uecisive moiul ieusons. As McDovell uclnovleuges,
[fuiluie| lo see vhul u ciicumslunce meuns, in lhe louueu sense [vhich
enluils molivulion| is of couise comuliLle vilh comelence, Ly ull
oiuinuiy lesls, vilh lhe lunguuge useu lo uesciiLe lhe ciicumslunce'
(McDovell rq;8. 86). He uoes nol seem eiluiLeu Ly lhis, suying only
lhul il Liings oul hov louueu lhe nolion of meuning involveu in lhe
iolesl is' (McDovell rq;8. 86). Bul muny vill Le ul of. If someone
is comelenl Ly oiuinuiy lesls, lhey gius lhe ielevunl concels
unu lnov lhe ielevunl fucls. If lhey uie nol moveu Ly lhem, Moiul
Inleinulism fuils. Whul goou is il lhul Muiuoch mules sense of moiul
ieusons if she uoes so vilh un inuefensiLle cluim`
3. A Platonic Theory of Concepts
A ley lo lhe sliucluie of Sc.crcignt is lhul Muiuoch unliciules lhis
comluinl.
29
In lhe fisl hulf of The Iueu of Peifeclion', lhe uil vhose
luigels cun seem uislunl fiom us, Muiuoch ciilicizes u genelic' unulysis
of menlul concels lhul ueiives fiom u Liouuly Lehuviouiisl ieuuing
of Willgenslein. Cn lhe genelic lheoiy, [menlul| life is, unu logicully
musl Le, u shuuov of life in uLlic' since, in geneiul, lhe ossession of
[u| concel is u uLlic slill' (Muiuoch rq;o. ;, rr). Muiuoch illusliules
lhis lheoiy vilh lhe concel of uecision.
Hov uo I learn lhe concel of uecision` By vulching
someone vho suys 'I huve ueciueu' unu vho lhen ucls.
Hov else coulu I leuin il` Anu vilh lhul I leuin lhe essence
of lhe mullei. I uo nol 'move on' fiom u Lehuviouiislic
concel lo u menlul one. [.| A uecision uoes nol luin oul
lo Le, vhen moie cuiefully consiueieu, un inliosecliLle
movemenl. The concel hus no fuilhei innei sliucluie, il
is ils oulei sliucluie. (Muiuoch rq;o. rz)
zq. Heie I um inueLleu lo Bioucles zorz. q8, lhough I uifei fiom him, ul
leusl in emhusis, on lhe iole of moiul eicelion in Muiuoch's viev. See lhe
uiscussion of lhicl concels' Lelov.
Mon.i IN+inN.iisx. If lhe fucl lhul p is u uecisive moral
ieuson foi A lo , unu A lnovs lhul p, A is uecisively
moveu lo .
26
Muiuoch iesliicls lhe scoe of Hyei-Inleinulism in u similui vuy.
[We| uie nol ulvuys iesonuing lo lhe mugnelic ull of
lhe iueu of eifeclion. Cflen, foi inslunce vhen ve uy
oui Lills oi eifoim olhei smull eveiyuuy ucls, ve uie jusl
'unyLouy' uoing vhul is ioei oi muling simle choices
foi oiuinuiy uLlic ieusons. (Muiuoch rq;o. r)
The conlouis of lhis iesliiclion uie nol enliiely cleui. Ioi simlicily, I
vill voil vilh Hyei-Inleinulism foi uecisive moiul ieusons, sliessing
lhul lhe oinl is uLoul lhe molivulionul foice nol of lhe Lelief lhul un
ucl is iighl oi viong Lul of lhe fucls lhul give il lhul slulus.
27
As I huve oiliuyeu il, lhe ulliuclion of Moiul Inleinulism is lo
ievenl lhe ioLlem of moiul ieusons fiom Leing oseu. We cun
suve lhe geneiulily unu uecisive foice of such ieusons vilhoul huving
lo voiiy uLoul lhe uigumenl foi elhicul iulionulism unu vilhoul
ullemling lhe heioic ueiivulion of moiul commilmenl fiom lhe uim
oi enu of ugency, us such. Ils only fuv, you mighl susecl, is lhul il is
fulse inueeu, oLviously so.
28
The seciul viev on vhich lhe viiluous
eison's concelion of lhe ciicumslunce cunnol Le shuieu Ly lhe
z6. In lulei voil, McDovell's commilmenl lo Moiul Inleinulism is less cleui.
Thus, in Viilue unu Reuson', lhe lnovleuge lhul issues in iighl conuucl is
lnovleuge of un uclion unuei some such uesciilion us 'lhe lhing lo uo'' on
lhe Lusis of u consiueiulion uiehenueu us u ieuson' (McDovell rq;q. jr,
j, see ulso j;). Heie lhe viiluous eison's concelion of lhe ciicumslunce
incluues exlicilly noimulive cluims.
z;. Becuuse il is iesliicleu lo uecisive ieusons, lhis is nol u full uccounl of moi-
ul molivulion, even vhen ve ignoie Leliefs uLoul iighl unu viong. In lhe
cuse of so-culleu imeifecl uulies', uecisive ieuson ulies nol lo uisciele oi
loculizeu ucls, such us heling iighl nov, Lul lo ones lhul occuy inuefnile
eiious, lile uoing enough lo hel lhose in neeu. The molivulion of lhe lullei
fulls unuei Moiul Inleinulism, lhe molivulion of lhe foimei uoes nol.
z8. This chuige is viviuly exiesseu Ly Smilh rqq. rzrj.
iniiosoinins' ixiniN+ q voi. r, No. q (x.v zor)
M's vision of D Lecomes moie loving unu moie jusl, so lhul somelhing
of moiul signifcunce hus gone on.
Whul is lhe oinl of lhis exumle` Becuuse lvo issues uie iun
logelhei, one of lhem is eusy lo miss.
30
Il is oLvious lhul Muiuoch
is conlesling lhe neglecl of iivule moiul uclivily Ly lhe Lehuviouiisl
oLsesseu vilh oulvuiu ueeus. Bul lhis is only uil of il. Moie imoilunl
is lhe nuluie of M's uclivily, vhich is iefning lhe vuy in vhich she sees
lhe voilu. Hei gius of lhe concels vilh vhich she oeiules pcrt,
ccrcncnicus, un!ignic!, gu is liunsfoimeu unu imioveu, unu hei
uesciilions chunge uccoiuingly. Il is lhis henomenon, in vhich one's
unueislunuing of u concel goes Leyonu vhul one lnev in ucquiiing
il, oi Leing comelenl Ly oiuinuiy lesls, lhul lhe genelic lheoiisl
cunnol comiehenu. The uigumenl uguinsl lhe genelic lheoiy is lhul
lhe henomenon is ieul. full ossession of u concel cun liunscenu lhe
musleiy of ils uLlic use. The exumle of M unu D is suoseu lo mule
lhis viviu. Innocenl of lheoiy, Muiuoch Lelieves, ve vill Le lemleu
lo uesciiLe lhe cuse us one of iogiess lovuius eifeclion in lhe gius
of menlul concels.
Il mighl Le uigueu, insleuu, lhul lhe sloiy is one of iogiess
lovuius eifeclion in unueislunuing unolhei eison. Bul lheie is
no conficl heie. ve cun suy lhul, loo. Anu ve huve lo ieuu Muiuoch
us conceineu vilh gius of concels in oiuei lo mule sense of hei
Lool. The exumle of M unu D is fiumeu Ly lhe genelic lheoiy, unu ils
insighls uie ulieu lo ieenlunce unu love.
31
In euch cuse, hei loic
is conceluul musleiy, unu il is lhis loic, eihus umong olheis, lo
vhich lhe exumle seuls. Muiuoch's conclusion mules lhis cleui.
The enliy inlo u menlul concel of lhe nolion of un iueul
limil ueslioys lhe genelic unulysis of ils meuning. [.|
Is 'love' u menlul concel, unu if so cun il Le unulyseu
genelicully` No uouLl Muiy's lillle lumL loveu Muiy, lhul
is il folloveu hei lo school, unu in some sense of 'leuin'
o. See, uguin, Bioucles zorz. ;8.
r. Cn ieenlunce, see Muiuoch rq;o. zj.
Allhough lhis is somelhing of u cuiiculuie, lhe iueu lhul menlul unu
olhei concels uie unchoieu in lheii uLlic use is nol unuchionislic.
Veisions of il uie slill iooseu. Whul mulleis heie is lhul lheoiies of
lhis linu suoil lhe chuige uguinsl Moiul Inleinulism. Cn lhe genelic
lheoiy, nolhing lhul is nol uuienl in lhe uLlic ucquisilion of u
concel cun Le essenliul lo ils conlenl. Someone vho goes lhiough
lhe oiuinuiy liuining, unu vho is comelenl Ly oiuinuiy lesls, hus
eveiylhing iequiieu lo gius lhe concel exiesseu Ly u voiu. Thus,
lhe eison ve imugineu in seclion r cun lnov uLoul his ciicumslunce
exuclly vhul lhe viiluous eison lnovs. He cun lnov lhe fucls lhul
ioviue u moiul ieuson vilhoul Leing moveu. This is vhul Muiuoch
musl ueny, us she uoes in lunguuge echoeu Ly McDovell.
Theie uie lvo senses of 'lnoving vhul u voiu meuns', one
connecleu vilh oiuinuiy lunguuge, lhe olhei veiy much
less so. [.| We uo nol simly, lhiough Leing iulionul unu
lnoving oiuinuiy lunguuge, 'lnov' lhe meuning of ull
necessuiy moiul voius. (Muiuoch rq;o. z8)
The queslion is. Whul is hei uigumenl` Hov uoes she uislouge
lhe genelic lheoiy unu olheis lile il, lheoiies on vhich lhe oLjeclion
lo Moiul Inleinulism goes lhiough` The unsvei lies in u seconu ley
lo Sc.crcignt. u coiiecl inleiielulion of lhe exumle of M unu D.
The exumle ilself is moie fiequenlly cileu lhun unylhing else in lhe
Lool. A molhei, M, feels hoslilily lo hei uuughlei-in-luv, D, fnuing
hei eil unu fumiliui, insumcienlly ceiemonious, Liusque, somelimes
osilively iuue, ulvuys liiesomely juvenile' (Muiuoch rq;o. r6;). This
uoes nol ufecl M's oulvuiu Lehuvioui, vhich is eifecl lhioughoul.
Yel she exeiiences moiul iogiess. M iefecls ueliLeiulely uLoul D
unlil giuuuully hei vision of D ulleis. [.| D is uiscoveieu lo Le nol
vulgui Lul iefieshingly simle, nol unuignifeu Lul sonluneous, nol
noisy Lul guy, nol liiesomely juvenile Lul uelighlfully youlhful, unu so
on' (Muiuoch rq;o. r;). We uie lo imugine lhe cuse us one in vhich
iniiosoinins' ixiniN+ ro voi. r, No. q (x.v zor)
inelucluLly Lounu logelhei (Williums rq8j. ro). Beinuiu Williums,
vho mules u gieul ueul of such concels in Ithics un! thc Iinits cf
Ihi|cscph, cieuils his uieciulion of lheii imoilunce lo u seminui
luughl Ly Philiu Iool unu Muiuoch in lhe rqjos (Williums rq8j.
zr8n.;). Ioi Williums, lhicl moiul concels uie uislinclive in Leing ul
once voilu-guiueu' unu uclion-guiuing'. They uie voilu-guiueu in
lhul lheie uie necessuiy limils lo uiveigence in lheii use. Those vho
gius lhe ielevunl concels uie Lounu lo ugiee in lheii uliculion,
excel ul lhe muigins (Williums rq8j. ror). In lhis iesecl, lhey uie
meunl lo uifei fiom lhin' concels lile cught unu gcc!, lhough lhe
uifeience is iesumuLly one of uegiee (Williums rq8j. rjrz).
33
Thicl
concels uie uclion-guiuing in lhul lhey uie chuiucleiislicully ieluleu
lo ieusons' unu Lecuuse one cunnol gius lhem unless one shuies,
ul leusl lhiough imuginulion, lheii evuluulive oinl (Williums rq8j.
roz). In ossessing u lhicl moiul concel, one uiliciules, eihus
vicuiiously, in u sensiLilily lhul muy huve molivulionul foice. In efecl,
il is lhiough lhis sensiLilily lhul useis of lhe concel uie uLle go on in
lhe sume vuy'. lhis is hov molivulion oi ufecl is Luill inlo lhe concel.
Il is unueniuLly lemling lo inleiiel Muiuoch in lighl of Williums.
34

Muiuoch inviles lhis ieuuing in hei iefeience lo noimulive eilhels'
unu seconuuiy moiul voius' in conneclion vilh M unu D, unu in
uisuiuging lhe imeisonul voilu of fucls' (Muiuoch rq;o. r8, zz, z).
The lemlulion is eseciully sliong vilh ussuges lile lhis.
If ve icluie lhe ugenl us comelleu Ly oLeuience lo
lhe ieulily he cun see, he vill nol Le suying 'This is iighl',
i. c., 'I choose lo uo lhis', he vill Le suying 'This is A B C
D' (noimulive-uesciilive voius), unu uclion vill follov
. Even vilh lhin concels, lheie uie limils lo uiveigence. As Iool oLseiveu, if
someone iocluims us un ullimule iincile [lhul il is| viong lo iun uiounu
liees iighl hunueu oi lo lool ul heugehogs in lhe lighl of lhe moon', ve vill
uouLl lhul he giuss lhe concels of moiul iighl unu viong (Iool zooz. xiv).
. As even hei mosl eicelive ieuueis huve uone, see, foi inslunce, Bioucles
zorz. rj. Il is uiliculuily usciilions of lhe seciulizeu leims [coiiesonu-
ing lo lhicl moiul concels| lhul uie (in ielevunl siluulions) immeuiulely
molivuling.'
ve mighl vell leuin lhe concel, lhe voiu, in lhul conlexl.
Bul vilh such u concel lhul is nol lhe enu of lhe mullei.
[.| A ueeening iocess, ul uny iule un ulleiing unu
comliculing iocess, lules luce. (Muiuoch rq;o. z8)
Though il is nol my uiose lo uefenu hei viev, Muiuoch suiely
hus u oinl. Hei uesciilions of concel-ossession iing liue. We suy
lhul oui unueislunuing of ieenlunce unu love hus giovn, nol meiely
lhul ve huve leuineu nev fucls uLoul lhem.
32
If ve uie iighl lo uo so,
lhe genelic lheoiy is viong. The oLjeclion lo Moiul Inleinulism lhus
cunnol iely on lhe genelic lheoiy, oi unylhing lile il, foi suoil. Theie
is ioom foi lhe viev lhul, vhile someone muy ueui lo Le unmoveu
Ly lnovleuge of uecisive moiul ieusons, lheii gius of lhese ieusons
is imeifecl, since lhey uo nol ossess lhe ielevunl concels in full.
Slill, ve muy uouLl lhul lhe only souice of iesislunce lo Moiul
Inleinulism is u Luu hilosohy of minu. The iueu lhul one cun gius
lhe neeus of olheis vilhoul Leing moveu Ly lhem cun Le elicileu
vilhoul lhe genelic lheoiy. Consiuei, foi inslunce, u viiluous eison
vho unueigoes moiul ueleiioiulion, Lecoming inuifeienl oi veul-
villeu. Is il luusiLle lo cluim lhul his gius of lhe ielevunl concels,
ieviously fuvless, hus fuileu` Moie geneiully, ve uie enlilleu lo
usl nh full ossession of ceiluin concels, ulong vilh lheii coiiecl
uliculion lo lhe ciicumslunce, enluils molivulion oi choice. Hov
uoes lhis follov fiom lhe conuilions of concel-ossession, on u moie
uuequule uccounl` Il is nol enough foi Muiuoch lo iejecl u lheoiy
lhul conficls vilh hei cluims, she neeus lo slelch un ulleinulive lhul
susluins lhem.
Heie ve ieuch u lhiiu ley lo Sc.crcignt. lhe fulse ussimilulion of
Muiuoch's lheoiy lo un emhusis on lhicl moiul concels' such us
ccnur!, |ic, brutu|it, grutitu!c' in vhich uesciilion unu evuluulion uie
z. This oinl is emhusizeu Ly Alice Ciuiy in 3ccn! Mcru| ju!gncnt (Ciuiy
zoo;. r). Allhough she ciles Muiuoch unu uiuvs ullenlion lo lhe iuclicul
ushol of concel-ossession, Ciuiy uoes nol uiliculule Moiul Inleinulism oi
lhe Plulonic lheoiy of concels exloieu Lelov.
iniiosoinins' ixiniN+ rr voi. r, No. q (x.v zor)
useu lo uesciiLe u seciul ieuson-consliluling concelion of u siluulion
neeu nol Le exlicilly evuluulive' (McDovell rq;8. 86). The iesull is
u much ueeei lhieul lo lhe uislinclion Lelveen fucl unu vulue lhun
lhe meie exunsion of moiul concels envisugeu Ly Williums. Cn
Muiuoch's viev, lhe uesciilion of u ciicumslunce in menlul Lul nol
exlicilly moiul leims cun huve u ioeily oflen lhoughl lo uislinguish
elhicul concels fiom olheis. lhul lnovleuge of ils uliculion is
essenliully molivuling. Whul ve execleu lo full on lhe fucl siue of
lhe fucl/vulue uislinclion luins oul lo huve lhe ulliiLules of vulue.
This hus liunsfoimulive imliculions foi moiul eislemology unu lhe
meluhysics of moiul ioeilies.
Tule meluhysics fisl. If unylhing is common giounu umiusl lhe
uisuiiuy of conlemoiuiy melu-elhics, il is lhe u pricri sueivenience
of lhe elhicul. vhul fulls unuei elhicul concel E uoes so in viilue of
fulling unuei non-elhicul concels, N, such lhul necessuiily, vhul fulls
unuei N fulls unuei E. Viiluully no-one uisules lhis cluim, vhich is
lulen us u guiue lo lhe nuluie of elhics.
35
The cluim is luusiLle nol
only foi lhin concels such us cught unu gcc! Lul foi lhe concels of
secifc viilues. If Muiuoch is iighl, hovevei, lhe sychology of viilue
goes Leyonu lhese concels, lo lhe giounus of lheii uliculion. The
ieusons vhy un ucl is jusl oi unjusl, linu oi unlinu, iighl oi viong,
vill sulisfy Moiul Inleinulism. They vill molivule lhose vho fully
ossess lhem. In lhis iesecl, lhey counl us moiul fucls, even lhough
lhey uo nol involve lhe slunuuiu menu of moiul concels, lhicl oi lhin.
Noi is il u pricri lhul such fucls foi inslunce, fucls uLoul lhe neeus
of olheis unu lhe cosl of heling lhem sueivene on unylhing else.
Since moiul hilosohy lools uiieclly lo lhese fucls, sueivenience is
nol essenliul lo lhe concels vilh vhich il voils. Noi cun ve ussume
lhul exlicilly moiul concels uly on lhe Lusis of fucls lhul uie
nol lhemselves moiul, since lhe fucls in queslion muy sulisfy Moiul
j. Ruie excelions incluue Ciimn rqq6. 8 unu Sluigeon zooq, lhough Slui-
geon's uouLls eiluin moie lo lhe foimululion of sueivenience lhun lo lhe
liulh of somelhing in lhe vicinily.
nuluiully. As lhe emly choice vill nol occui lhe emly
voiu vill nol Le neeueu. (Muiuoch rq;o. or)
Bul lhe uiouch is quile misleuuing. Iiisl, vhul Muiuoch emhusizes
in lhe concels lhul inleiesl hei is nol lhe uegiee of conveigence lhey
exhiLil Lul lhe olenliul foi u seciulizeu eisonul use of u concel'
in vuys lhul muy Le iivule oi iuiosynciulic (Muiuoch rq;o. zj).
Similuily, Muiuoch's cluim is nol lhul lhose vho use u given concel
non-vicuiiously, lhe uiliciunls foi vhom il hus life, uie Lounu lo Le
moveu Ly ils coiiecl uliculion. Il is only liue vision', u eifeclion ve
iuiely uiouch, lhul guuiunlees iighl uclion.
Moie signifcunlly, Muiuoch's focus is nol on lhe concels vilh
vhich ve uesciiLe oui olions just, ccurugccus, cruel unu vhose
uliculion guiues uclion, Lul on lhe concels vilh vhich ve uesciiLe
oui ciicumslunce unu lhe eole vilh vhom ve inleiucl. Thinl Lucl
lo M unu D. Whul lhe molhei guins is nol u ueeei uiehension of
hei ovn moiul chuiuclei, oi of hei Lehuvioui, Lul of hei uuughlei-in-
luv unu vhul she is ieully lile. Noi uoes Muiuoch confne heiself lo
concels lhul cuiiy u secifc vulence, osilive oi negulive, lile lhe ones
on Williums' lisl. As Lecomes incieusingly cleui in lhe seconu essuy of
Sc.crcignt, lhe lnovleuge lhul conslilules viilue is nol lnovleuge of
lhe Coou, oi even of uilicului viilues, Lul of lhe ieul exislence of
olhei eole. The moie lhe seuiuleness unu uifeienlness of olhei
eole is ieulizeu, unu lhe fucl seen lhul unolhei mun hus neeus unu
vishes us uemunuing us one's ovn, lhe huiuei il Lecomes lo lieul u
eison us u lhing' (Muiuoch rq;o. 6).
In geneiul, Muiuoch's lull of moiul concels' musl Le heuiu in
ielulion lo u uienlhelic iemuil. (Thul menlul concels enlei lhe
sheie of moiulily is, foi my uigumenl, iecisely lhe cenliul oinl.)'
(Muiuoch rq;o. z) The moiul ieusons full cognilion of vhich
enluils choice, uccoiuing lo Moiul Inleinulism, uie jusl uesciilions of
one's ciicumslunce, us, foi inslunce, lhul someone is in seiious neeu
unu one cun hel lhem ul lillle cosl. McDovell's uiscussion icls u
on lhis. us lhe exumle of 'shy unu sensilive' illusliules, lhe lunguuge
iniiosoinins' ixiniN+ rz voi. r, No. q (x.v zor)
ulies lo all concels, nol jusl lo lhose vhich uie moiully ielevunl. Aie
lheie foims of muu, huii unu uiil` If lheie uie lhen nuluie is ieueemeu
inlo lhe uieu of liulhful vision. (My ievious uigumenl ussumes
of couise, in Plulonic leims, lhul lheie uie.)' (Muiuoch rq;o. 86) In
oulline, lhe lheoiy is lhis. euch concel is ussociuleu vilh noims foi ils
ioei use, Lolh iuclicul unu lheoielicul, lhese noims uesciiLe vhen
lhe concel shoulu Le ulieu unu vhul follovs fiom ils uliculion,
Lolh cognilively unu in ielulion lo lhe vill, lo gius u given concel
is lo uioximule, in one's uisosilions of lhoughl, u confoimily vilh
lhese noims. Concel-ossession lhus comes Ly uegiee unu oinls
lo u limil ve muy nevei ieuch. eifecl comliunce vilh lhe noims Ly
vhich oui concels uie uefneu.
This icluie of concels is ieluleu lo Duviuson's conslilulive iueul
of iulionulily' unu lo lhe noimulivily of lhe inlenlionul'. A moie iecenl
Plulonisl, Rulh Weugvoou, mules u similui cluim.
[The| uocliine lhul lhe inlenlionul is noimulive cun Le
vieveu us u vuy of cushing oul Plulo's meluhoi lhul lhe
Ioim of lhe Coou is lo lhe unueislunuing vhul lhe sun
is lo vision (Rcpub|ic, jo;Ljoqu). We counl us sighleu
Lecuuse ve uie uioiiulely sensilive lo lighl, lhe
ullimule souice of vhich is lhe sun, in u similui vuy, ve
counl us lhinleis Lecuuse ve uie uioiiulely sensilive
lo noimulive iequiiemenls, lhe souice of vhich is u
ielevunl ussuge is lhis.
Plulo ussumes lhe inleinul ielulion of vulue, liulh, cognilion. Vii-
lue (us comussion, humilily, couiuge) involves u uesiie foi unu
uchievemenl of liulh insleuu of fulsehoou, ieulily insleuu of ueui-
unce. [.| Leuining unylhing ioeily uemunus (viiluous) ullenlion.
Heie lhe iueu of truth luys u ciuciul iole (us il uoes ulso in Kunl)
unu ieulily emeiges us lhe oLjecl of liulhful vision, unu viiluous uc-
lion us lhe iouucl of such vision. This is u icluie of lhe omniies-
ence of moiulily unu evuluulion in humun life. Cn lhis viev il voulu
seem muu lo Legin hilosohy Ly usseiling u comlele seuiulion
of fucl fiom vulue, unu lhen ullemling lo give u sulisfucloiy uccounl
of moiuls. (Muiuoch rqqz. q)
Inleinulism. Wilhoul lhe ussumlion of sueivenience, melu-elhics
voulu Le ulmosl unimuginuLly uifeienl.
In eislemology, lhe consequence is, if unylhing, moie sliiling.
Beliefs uLoul iighl unu viong, oi vhul lheie is ieuson lo uo, muy iuise
eislemic ioLlems. Bul eihus lhey cun Le ignoieu. All ve neeu
is lnovleuge of lhe fucls lhul conslilule ieusons, luin fucls uLoul
oui ciicumslunce, vhich infuence lhe vill. Assuming ve cun lnov
lhe uliculion of menlul concels, lheie is no ioLlem uLoul moiul
lnovleuge in ils mosl Lusic foim.
No uouLl lhese ioosuls iuise queslions of lheii ovn. Peihus
lhe iesull is lo mule lhe eislemology of lhe menlul moie mysleiious
lhun il seemeu. We von'l uisue lhul issue heie. Cui lusl is lo fnu in
Muiuoch u lheoiy of concels lhul mules sense of Moiul Inleinulism.
She iejecls lhe genelic lheoiy, unu hei cluim is nol meiely uLoul
lhicl concels Lul uLoul lhe vhole iunge of lhoughls vilh vhich
ve uiliculule oui sociul voilu. Whul uccounl uoes she give` The clue
lo Muiuoch's icluie lies in lhe invoculion of ieulism', vhich ve
encounleieu in seclion r. In u Plulonic moue, Muiuoch connecls lhe
ieulism of viilue vilh lhe uieciulion of Leuuly in uil unu nuluie',
vhich is u comlelely uuequule enliy inlo (unu nol jusl unulogy of) lhe
goou life, since il is lhe checling of selfshness in lhe inleiesl of seeing
lhe ieul' (Muiuoch rq;o. 6).
36
Cieul uil shuies in lhe exuclness unu
oLjeclive ullenlion Muiuoch ussociules vilh moiuls. The sume is liue
of technai in geneiul. in un inlellecluul uisciline, I um confionleu Ly
un uulhoiilulive sliucluie vhich communus my iesecl. [.| Allenlion
is ievuiueu Ly u lnovleuge of ieulily' (Muiuoch rq;o. 8;). Anu in
lhe mosl geneiul foimululion of ull. Thc ncccssit cf thc gcc! is thcn un
uspcct cf thc |in! cf ncccssit in.c|.c! in un tcchniquc fcr cxhibiting fuct'
(Muiuoch rq;o. 6).
Il is ossiLle lo exliucl fiom lhese incieusingly uLsliucl cluims u
Plulonic lheoiy of concels unu concel-ossession.
37
This lheoiy
6. See ulso Muiuoch rq;o. 8zj.
;. Peihus lhe cleuiesl slulemenl of lhis viev is lo Le founu in Mctuphsics us u
Cui!c tc Mcru|s, Lul lhul Lool is loo uimcull lo Le inlegiuleu heie. The mosl
iniiosoinins' ixiniN+ r voi. r, No. q (x.v zor)
If lhis is iighl, Moiul Inleinulism is conlioveisiul Lul nol oLviously
fulse. Il is vinuiculeu Ly Muiuoch's sin on u conlenlious, lhough nol
imluusiLle, hilosohy of minu. Hei uigumenls foi lhis concelion
uie sculleieu, unu I um moie conceineu lo mule hei viev cogenl lhun
lo mule il iiiesisliLle. Bul u cenliul lhieuu iuns fiom lhe exumle of
M unu D lo lhe conclusion lhul oui gius of concels cun Le moie
oi less iueul, vheie lhe limil is eifecl iulionulily oi iesonsiveness
lo ieuson. Muiuoch suoils unu illusliules lhis cluim vilh concels
of lhe nuluiul voilu, vilh uil, unu vilh technai. lhe iueu of eifeclion
voils vilhin eveiy felu of lhoughl.
This uigumenl uoes nol lell us vhul lheie is ieuson lo uo. In
uilicului, il uoes nol lell us lhul lhe neeus of olhei eole ioviue
us vilh ieusons lo ucl. If lheie uie such ieusons, hovevei, il follovs
fiom lhe Plulonic lheoiy lhul lhe coiiesonuing noims uie Luill inlo
oui concels. When lheie is uecisive moiul ieuson lo ucl in u ceiluin
vuy, lnovleuge of lhul ieuson, incluuing iueul gius of lhe concels
il involves, enluils uecisive molivulion. Moiul Inleinulism holus. This
uigumenl unsveis lhe queslion Why Le moiul`' nol Ly shoving lhul
lheie is ieuson lo uo vhul is iighl, oi Ly eisuuuing lhe umoiulisl, Lul
Ly uvoiuing lhe uilemmu oseu in seclion r. Even if lhe uigumenl
foi elhicul iulionulism goes lhiough, ve cun suve lhe geneiulily of
moiul ieusons vilhoul ueiiving lheii exislence fiom lhe nuluie of lhe
vill. Cn lhe Plulonic lheoiy of concels, lheie is unolhei ossiLilily.
lhul iulionul ugenls uie moveu Ly such consiueiulions Lecuuse lhey
uie ieusons oi so ve ussume uguinsl lhe scelic unu Lecuuse
iulionulily Lelongs lo full cognilion of lhe fucls.
This ieuuing mules sense of much lhul is oLscuie in Thc Sc.crcignt
cf Ccc!, fiom lhe iole of lhe genelic lheoiy, lhiough Muiuoch's
ieulism, lo hei concelion of choice. Bul il leuves u numLei of loose
enus. Cne is secifc lo lhe conlexl in vhich I huve luceu Muiuoch's
vievs. I huve uigueu lhul she uvoius lhe ioLlem of moiul ieusons
us il umicls lhe elhicul iulionulisl. Bul lhis muy Le loo quicl. The
liulh of iulionulism voulu consliuin vhul conslilules u noim of
iuclicul ieuson. Do lhe noims involveu in oui ossession of concels,
coheienl syslem of eleinul unu necessuiy liulhs uLoul
vhul ve oughl lo lhinl oi uo oi feel. (Weugvoou zoo;. )
Cn lhe Plulonic lheoiy, ve musl iesonu lo lhe noims of ieuson, ul
leusl Ly uioximulion, in using lhe concels ve uo. They uie ul
once u conuilion of lhoughl unu un iueul lo vhich ve usiie.
38
The
ncccssit in.c|.c! in un tcchniquc fcr cxhibiting fuct' is lhe necessily of
lhis usiiulion unu lhis iueul, u necessily involveu in uny ulleml lo
ueicl ieulily us il is.
Weugvoou's Plulonism uifeis fiom Muiuoch's in seveiul vuys.
Iiisl, Weugvoou concenliules on lhe concel cught, nol on lhicl
moiul concels oi lhe concels vilh vhich ve secify moiul ieusons.
39

Seconu, he ussociules euch concel vilh u single iule, oi u secifc
iulionul uisosilion' (Weugvoou zoo;. r6q). Muiuoch voulu uuol
u moie holislic viev. As ve ueeen oui concels, lhey Lecome moie
inliiculely Lounu lo one unolhei. iefeclion iighlly lenus lo unify
lhe moiul voilu' (Muiuoch rq;o. j6). The noims ve uiouch in
ossessing u given concel uo nol consisl in un isoluleu iule, lhey
incluue eveiy noim inlo vhich lhul concel enleis. Iinully, Weugvoou
mules nolhing of lhe cluim lhul oui ossession of concels muy Le
uiliul, lhul il comes Ly uegiee. These conliusls logelhei excluue fiom
Weugvoou's Plulonism vhul is mosl uislinclive in Muiuoch's viev.
hei commilmenl lo Moiul Inleinulism. If full ossession of concels
enluils confoimily nol only vilh locul noims Lul vilh slunuuius of
iueul iulionulily, full gius of u uecisive ieuson lo vill enluil uecisive
molivulion. The liulh of Moiul Inleinulism follovs fiom lhe Plulonic
lheoiy of concels, ussuming lhul lhe lnovleuge lo vhich il iefeis
involves liue vision' oi iueul conceluul gius unu lhul lhe noims
imlicil in oui concels uie lhose of iuclicul unu lheoielicul ieuson. Il
is in lhis sense lhul [lhe| uulhoiily of moiuls is lhe uulhoiily of liulh'
(Muiuoch rq;o. 88).
8. Anlonuccio zooo. jz, j8q.
q. He uefenus lhis focus exlicilly ul Weugvoou zoo;. q;8, roj6.
iniiosoinins' ixiniN+ r voi. r, No. q (x.v zor)
Anolhei loose enu is Muiuoch's emhusis on eicelion of lhe
inuiviuuul us u moiul henomenon. Does lhis conficl vilh, oi uoes
il follov fiom, lhe sloiy of conceluul iogiess lolu Ly lhe Plulonic
lheoiy` Is lheie ioom foi moiul uevelomenl lhul ieceues lhe
ucquisilion of concels, in vhich one comes lo eiceive u siluulion,
oi u eison, coiieclly, in vuys one cunnol uiliculule in voius` These
queslions ielule lo luigei issues in lhe hilosohy of minu, unu I cun
only louch uon lhem heie. A lemling viev is lhul shifls in eicelion
lhul conslilule moiul giovlh, even vhen lhey uie inuiliculule, involve
conceluul chunge. Cne muy nol huve voius foi lhe conlenl of one's
eicelion, Lul one cun lhinl uLoul il, if only in uemonsliulive leims.
this linu of eison, that vuy lo ucl.
41
I um inclineu lo lule lhis ioule,
Lul il is nol essenliul lo my uigumenl. A moie concessive iesonse
is lhul lheie is no ieuson vhy lhe Plulonic lheoiy musl exluin eveiy
usecl of Muiuoch's viev unu no ieuson lo feui lhul il conficls vilh
inleiielulions on vhich eicelion hus un inueenuenl iole.
Iinully, lhe Plulonic lheoiy cusls lighl on Muiuoch's ulliluue lo
uefeclive concels unu conceluul chunge. Suose lhul ossession
of u ululive concel involves Leing uisoseu lo lhinl oi ieucl in
immoiul vuys. lhe concel is one lhul u viiluous eison voulu nol
huve. Exumles mighl Le chustit oi sc|f!cniu|. Il is un imliculion
of Muiuoch's viev lhul such ululive concels fuil. Since lhe noims
uefnilive of uny concel uie noims of ieuson, genuine concels
cunnol Le in lhis vuy fuveu.
42
Those vho use lhe ielevunl voius
muy ueui lo Le lhinling, Lul lhey uie nol. Il is consislenl vilh lhis
lhul oui iesenl concels uie limileu, lhul lheie uie fucels of ieuson lo
vhich lhey ufoiu no uccess, unu lhul lheie is iessuie foi us lo ievise
unu exlenu oui lhoughls.
ulso consislenl vilh lhe Plulonic lheoiy, unu vilh Moiul Inleinulism, lo iejecl
lhe iulionulisl uigumenl ullogelhei.
r. See McDovell rqq. j68, uguinsl non-conceluul conlenl'.
z. Ioi u similui uigumenl, see Weugvoou zoo;. r68q, unu foi un oosing
viev, Williumson zoo.
uccoiuing lo Muiuoch's Plulonism, meel lhis consliuinl` We cun ul
lhe ioLlem lhis vuy. Accoiuing lo lhe Plulonic lheoiy, concels uie
ussociuleu vilh noims lo vhich ve musl uioximulely confoim,
iueul ossession of u concel involves full confoimily, unu lhis is lhe
slunuuiu of iueul iulionulily. Accoiuing lo elhicul iulionulism, lo Le
iuclicully iulionul is lo uchieve lhe uim oi enu of ugency, us such. We
lhus huve lvo olenliully conficling vievs of iuclicul iulionulily. Bul
ve cun ieconcile lheii cluims. If iueul iulionulily is full confoimily vilh
lhe noims insciiLeu in oui concels, unu lo Le iuclicully iulionul is lo
uchieve lhe uim oi enu of ugency, us such, lhe uim of ugency musl Le lo
gius lhe concels vilh vhich lo uesciiLe oui ciicumslunce. Though
she is nol exlicil uLoul il, lhis muy Le Muiuoch's viev. She conceives
ullenlion us u jusl unu loving guze uiiecleu uon un inuiviuuul ieulily'
unu culls lhis lhe chuiucleiislic unu ioei muil of lhe uclive moiul
ugenl' (Muiuoch rq;o. ). As she goes on lo suy, lhis is Lolh u logicul
unu u noimulive cluim'. il hus lhe sume uuul chuiuclei us lhe uim of
ugency, foi lhe elhicul iulionulisl, vhich Liiuges lhe is-oughl gu. Cn
lhis inleiielulion, vhile Muiuoch ofeis somelhing lile lhe ieveise
of Humshiie's icluie', she ugiees, in u vuy, vilh
lhe only exlicil 'oughl' in his sychology. We oughl
lo lnov vhul ve uie uoing. We shoulu uim ul lolul
lnovleuge of oui siluulion unu u cleui conceluulizulion
of ull oui ossiLililies. (Muiuoch rq;o. ;)
The uifeience is in hov she conceives such lnovleuge, nol us u mullei
of uLlic, imeisonul fucl, Lul us lhe oLjecl of jusl eicelion, unu nol
us exunuing oui iunge of ossiLililies, Lul us closing lhem of vilhoul
iecluuing fieeuom, so lhul iighl conuucl is ussuieu. The oughl' of
ullenlion lo sociul ieulily Ly vhich oui lhoughls uie eifecleu is lhe
oughl' of ugency oi iuclicul ieuson and lhe oughl' of meeling lhe
noims Ly vhich oui concels uie uefneu.
40
o. Allhough lhis ieuuing is ossiLle, I shoulu sliess lhul lhe lexl uoes nol ie-
quiie il. While Muiuoch's viev cun Le ieconcileu vilh elhicul iulionulism, il is
iniiosoinins' ixiniN+ rj voi. r, No. q (x.v zor)
uoing in lhese ussuges, vhy il mulleis lo moiul hilosohy, unu hov
il conslilules u foim of ioof.
4. The Sovereignty of Good
The lunguuge of my uccounl so fui hus Leen consicuously uifeienl
fiom Muiuoch's. I huve viillen uLoul lhe noims of iuclicul unu
lheoielicul ieuson insciiLeu in oui concels unu of lhe slunuuius of
iueul iulionulily in lheii use. Muiuoch viiles insleuu uLoul eifeclion
unu lhe Coou. Rulionulily is nol u cenliul concel in hei Lool. The
conliusl heie is nol jusl leiminologicul. Whul is ul slule in lhe iueu
of lhe Coou is lhe unily unu coheience of lhe noims involveu in lhe
eifecl gius of menlul concels. This issue is iuiseu Ly Muiuoch in
hei essuy Cn 'Cou' unu 'Coou''.
The nolion lhul vulue shoulu Le in some sense unitur, oi
even lhul lheie shoulu Le u single suieme vulue concel,
muy seem, if one suiienueis lhe iueu of Cou, fui fiom
oLvious. Why shoulu lheie nol Le muny uifeienl linus of
inueenuenl moiul vulues` Why shoulu ull Le one heie`
(Muiuoch rq;o. jj)
To Lelieve in lhe Coou is lo Lelieve lhul, in un evuluulive sense, ull is
one. To illusliule lhis cluim, Muiuoch ciles lhe olenliul unily of lhe
viilues. if ve iefecl uon couiuge unu usl vhy ve lhinl il lo Le u
viilue, vhul linu of couiuge is lhe highesl, vhul uislinguishes couiuge
fiom iushness, feiocily, self-usseilion, unu so on, ve uie Lounu, in oui
exlunulion, lo use lhe numes of olhei viilues' (Muiuoch rq;o. j6).
43

Bul lhis uoes nol exhuusl lhe Lelief she hus in minu.
[Whul| is il foi someone vho is nol u ieligious Lelievei
unu nol some soil of myslic, lo uiehenu some seuiule
'foim' of goouness Lehinu lhe mullifuiious cuses of
goou Lehuvioui` Shoulu nol lhis iueu Le ieuuceu lo lhe
. See ulso Muiuoch rq;o. q, McDovell rq;q. jo.
Moiul lusls uie chuiucleiislicully enuless nol only
Lecuuse 'vilhin', us il veie, u given concel oui efoils
uie imeifecl, Lul ulso Lecuuse us ve move unu us ve
lool oui concels lhemselves uie chunging. (Muiuoch
rq;o. z;)
We muy neeu nev unu Lellei concels in oiuei lo comiehenu oui
ieusons, lo Liing inlo viev lhe fucls foi vhich Moiul Inleinulism holus.
This oens un exliuoiuinuiy ossiLilily. If nev concels mule
uvuiluLle nev fucls, lnovleuge of vhich is inexliicuLle fiom choice,
hilosohy cun mule moiul iogiess lhiough inlellecluul chunge. In
lhe lusl lvo essuys of Sc.crcignt, Muiuoch insisls on lhe iuclicul
nuluie of hei iojecl. Hov cun ve mule ouiselves Lellei` is u
queslion moiul hilosoheis shoulu liy lo unsvei.' (Muiuoch rq;o.
;6) Cn lhe Plulonic concelion, lhey cun. As Muiuoch viole in Vision
unu Choice in Moiulily'.
Cieul hilosoheis coin nev moiul concels unu
communicule nev moiul visions unu moues of
unueislunuing. [.| Iiom heie ve muy see lhul lhe lusl
of moiul hilosoheis hus Leen lo exlenu, us oels muy
exlenu, lhe limils of lunguuge, unu enuLle il lo illuminule
iegions vhich veie foimeily uuil. (Muiuoch rqj6. z, q)
Civen Moiul Inleinulism, lhe exlension of lunguuge unu lhoughl cun
conslilule moiul imiovemenl. Noi uoes Muiuoch simly oLseive
lhis iosecl. In lhe uils of hei Lool lhul seem mosl unoilhouox,
lheii iheloiic mosl high-fovn, she liies lo enucl il, lo iehuLililule lhe
concel of lhe Coou, neglecl of vhich is u moiul, nol jusl un inlellecluul,
vice. The imuge of lhe Coou us u liunscenuenl mugnelic cenlie seems
lo me lhe leusl coiiuliLle unu mosl ieulislic icluie foi us lo use in
oui iefeclions on lhe moiul life.' (Muiuoch rq;o. ;) Aguinsl lhe
Luclgiounu of lhe Plulonic lheoiy, ve cun exluin vhul Muiuoch is
iniiosoinins' ixiniN+ r6 voi. r, No. q (x.v zor)
is ulvuys u iighl uecision, one lhul sulisfes lhe noims involveu in
eveiy concel lhul ulies lo one's ciicumslunce. Belief in lhe Coou is
exiesseu in lhe iueu [.| lhul lhe lines ieully uo conveige' (Muiuoch
rq;o. q;). lhe lines liuceu oul Ly lhe noims of euch concel, vhich
conveige in lhe Coou. Ioi ull oui fiuilly lhe communu 'Le eifecl' hus
sense foi us' (Muiuoch rq;o. qo). Peifecl gius of eveiy concel muy
Le sychologicully oul of ieuch, Lul il is nol imossiLle.
Belief in lhe Coou is u ioleclion uguinsl uesuii Lecuuse il lells us
lhul eveiy ioLlem cun Le solveu. Bul lhe consolulion muy go fuilhei.
Al limes, Muiuoch suggesls lhul fuilh in lhe Coou is u iecognilion of
lhe uLsolule oinllessness of viilue [unu| ils suieme imoilunce',
lhul nolhing in life is of uny vulue excel lhe ulleml lo Le viiluous'
(Muiuoch rq;o. 8j). The unily heie is nol jusl lhul of u iighl
uecision, one lhul iesonus lo eveiy fucl, Lul lhul if one mules lhis
uecision, nolhing else mulleis. lheie is no cuuse foi iegiel oi uismuy,
ull olhei ieusons uie silenceu'.
44
Muiuoch emhusizes, loo, lhul
vhile il muy Le uimcull, conlemlulion of lhe Coou [is| u souice of
unconluminuleu eneigy, u souice of new unu quile unuieuml-of viilue'
(Muiuoch rq;o. qq). Il is u sychologicul fucl, unu one of imoilunce
lo moiul hilosohy, lhul ve cun ull ieceive moiul hel Ly focusing
oui ullenlion uon lhings vhich uie vuluuLle. viiluous eole, gieul
uil, eihus [.| lhe iueu of goouness ilself' (Muiuoch rq;o. jj).
45
Muiuoch's uiscussion ul limes confules lhe Plulonic lheoiy of
concels vilh Lelief in lhe Coou. In fucl, she is u Plulonisl lvice ovei.
once in ieluling euch concel lo lhe iueu of ils ovn eifeclion unu lhen
in lhe iueu of u single eifeclion in vhich eveiy concel shuies. As my
uiscussion shovs, lhese iueus uie uislincl. Theie is lhe Plulonic lheoiy
vhich suoils Moiul Inleinulism, unu lheie is lhe fuilhei cluim of
unily in lhe Coou. Allhough she is nol cuieful lo uislinguish lhem,
Muiuoch sees lhe neeu lo uigue foi lhe seconu cluim in u vuy lhul goes
Leyonu lhe fisl. She uoes nol enu vilh thc ncccssit cf thc gcc! us; un
. Ioi lhe iueu of silencing, see McDovell rq;8. qo, rq;q. j6.
j. Cn lhe uimcully heie, unu vhelhei lhe Coou cun Le u uiiecl oLjecl of ullen-
lion, see Muiuoch rq;o. 6;8, qj, q;, qq.
much moie inlelligiLle nolion of lhe inleiielulion of lhe
viilues, lus u uiely suLjeclive sense of lhe ceiluinly of
juugemenls` (Muiuoch rq;o. jq)
The hoeu-foi unsvei is lhul il shoulu nol. We cun mule sense of u
ueeei unily unu of u single foim of Coou Lehinu lhe vuiious linus of
excellence in lhe uliculion of concels unu iesonsiveness lo ieusons.
I lhinl ve cun unueislunu vhul Muiuoch vunls heie Ly noling
hov much lhe Plulonic lheoiy leuves oen. Accoiuing lo lhis lheoiy,
euch concel is ussociuleu vilh noims foi ils ioei use. In oiuei lo
gius u given concel, one musl sulisfy lhese noims, ul leusl lo some
uegiee. Bul lheie is ioom foi moie comlele ossession of u concel,
foi one lo uiouch eifeclion Ly meeling ils noims in full. Nolhing
in lhis uccounl iules oul lhe folloving ossiLilily. lhul lhe noims foi
concel I unu concel C uie incomuliLle, lhul ve cunnol eifecl oui
gius of Lolh. Suose, foi inslunce, lhul one ucl fulls unuei I, unolhei
unuei C. Knovleuge lhul un ucl is I, vilh full gius of lhe concel,
enluils uecisive molivulion. lhe fucl lhul lhe ucl is I is u uecisive ieuson
lo eifoim il. Al lhe sume lime, lnovleuge lhul un ucl is C, vilh full
gius of lhe concel, enluils uecisive molivulion. lhe fucl lhul lhe ucl
is C is u uecisive ieuson lo eifoim il. Il follovs lhul one cunnol fully
gius Lolh fucls, since one cunnol meel Lolh noims. The iesull is u
linu of fiugmenlulion in ieuson.
This uesciilion muy huiLoui some hiuuen incoheience, Lul
il uoes nol conficl vilh lhe lellei of lhe Plulonic lheoiy. All lhul is
imlieu is lhul lhe slunuuiu of iueul iulionulily in lhe ossession of
eveiy concel is unulluinuLle. Theie uie liugeuies in vhich ve huve
uecisive ieuson lo uo incomuliLle lhings. Whelhei lhis is liue oi
nol is, foi Muiuoch, u ieul queslion. The nolion lhul 'il ull somehov
musl mule sense', oi 'lheie is u Lesl uecision heie', ieseives fiom
uesuii, lhe uimcully is hov lo enleiluin lhis consoling nolion in u
vuy vhich is nol fulse' (Muiuoch rq;o. jj). If lhe Coou exisls, lhe
noims involveu in oui concels uie comuliLle. lheie uie no liugeuies
in vhich, vhulevei one uoes, one ucls uguinsl u uecisive ieuson. Theie
iniiosoinins' ixiniN+ r; voi. r, No. q (x.v zor)
lo come uuil, ve vill ieguiu lhe lension us meiely uuienl, ievising
oui use of lhese concels unlil il gives vuy. The iueu of lhe Coou lhus
oeiules us u iegululive iueul foi oui chunging conceluul gius.
Nov, so fui, lhis is meie uesciilion. il is un uccounl of hov
u concel voils, in lhe leims sel oul Ly lhe Plulonic lheoiy. Bul il
suoils un onlologicul ioof'.
46
Asl, fisl, vhelhei il is iulionul
lo mule lhe infeiences lhul uefne lhe concel of lhe Coou. If il is
iiiulionul, lhe Coou' is nol lhe nume of u genuine concel, foi ieusons
given ul lhe enu of seclion . Cn lhe olhei hunu, if il is iulionul lo lhinl
in lhese vuys, il is iulionul lo ievise oui concels in lhe uiieclion of
unily, lo iesolve uuienl conficls Lelveen lhem, unu lo ucl in lighl
of lhe unueislunuings ve ieuch. Il follovs lhul lhe noims involveu
in oui concels uo nol essenliully conficl. Theie is u iulionul vuy lo
unueislunu lhese concels on vhich lheii noims coheie vilh one
unolhei. u vuy in vhich ve uie leu lo unueislunu lhem if ve ieuson
in leims of lhe Coou. Il follovs in luin lhul lheie is ulvuys u iighl
uecision, one lhul is iulifeu Ly eveiy noim. Theie is ulvuys un unsvei
lo lhe queslion, Whul shoulu I uo`' Theie uie no insoluLle liugeuies,
unu ve uie iighl lo Lelieve in lhe exislence of lhe Coou.
This line of lhoughl is un onlologicul ioof, in lhul il moves fiom
lhe nuluie of u concel lo lhe ieulily of vhul il slunus foi. If lhoughl
uLoul lhe Coou is ossiLle, if il is nol lhe meie illusion of lhoughl,
lhen on lhe Plulonic lheoiy of concels, il musl Le iulionul, unu if il
is iulionul, lhe concel of lhe Coou cunnol Le emly. Cf couise, lheie
is no ioof of lhe unleceuenl. Muiuoch usls, uLoul oui invoculions of
lhe Coou. Cun ve give lhem uny cleui meuning oi uie lhey jusl lhings
one 'feels inclineu lo suy'`' (Muiuoch rq;o. jq) The Lesl ussuiunce of
sense is lhul oui ululive lhoughls uLoul lhe Coou uie ones lhul seem
inlelligiLle lo us in oiuinuiy life' (Muiuoch rq;o. ;z). Aflei lhul, lhe
6. Muiuoch ciles lhe onlologicul ioof, uienlhelicully, in ieluling eifeclion oi
uLsolule goou lo necessuiy exislence (Muiuoch rq;o. jq6o). (This is one
of lhe oinls ul vhich I lhinl she confules lhe ieulily of lhe Coou vilh lhe
Plulonic lheoiy of concels.) Theie is u chulei on lhe onlologicul ioof in
Mctuphsics us u Cui!c tc Mcru|s lhul is Liouuly consonunl vilh lhe ieuuing
ofeieu heie, un uuequule lieulmenl lies Leyonu oui scoe.
uspcct cf thc |in! cf ncccssit in.c|.c! in un tcchniquc fcr cxhibiting fuct',
vhich I huve lulen us un exiession of lhe Plulonic lheoiy (Muiuoch
rq;o. 6). Insleuu, she voiiies, ieeuleuly, lhul foi ull ils sychologicul
Lenefls, lhe iueu of un uncoiiuleu goou' is lhe meiesl consoluloiy
uieum' (Muiuoch rq;o. jq). Allenlion lo lhe Coou muy Le u souice
of moiul eneigy, il muy suve us fiom uesuii lo lhinl lhul eveiylhing
mules sense, lhul ve musl ieceive u ieluin vhen goou is sinceiely
uesiieu' (Muiuoch rq;o. 6z). [The| only uimcully is lhul none of il is
liue' (Muiuoch rq;o. ;o). Whul is Muiuoch's uigumenl foi lhe ieulily
of lhe Coou`
Looling Lucl lo lhe enu of seclion , lel us Legin vilh lhis.
Accoiuing lo Muiuoch, ve cun Lecome moiully Lellei Ly seeing lhe
voilu in lighl of lhe Coou. Muiuoch ofeis lhis concel iecisely us u
souice of moiul hel' unu unconluminuleu eneigy'. In u vuy, lheie
is no mysleiy heie. Il is nol mysleiious vhul ve guin fiom Lelief in
lhe Coou oi hov il cun ufecl oui uclions, if Muiuoch is iighl. This
Lelief is u souice of moiul molivulion. The uzzle is vhul lhis hus lo
uo vilh lhe exislence of lhe Coou. Why shoulu iuclicul ieusons foi
using u concel oi holuing u Lelief shov lhul lhe concel is nol emly
oi lhul lhe Lelief is liue` Muiuoch is uuumunl lhul heis is nol u soil
of iugmulism oi u hilosohy of 'us if'' (Muiuoch rq;o. ;z). We
shoulu nol simly ielenu lhul lhe lines conveige, ve uie juslifeu in
lhinling lhul lhey uo.
In oiuei lo mule sense of lhis, ve neeu lo suy moie uLoul lhe
concel of lhe Coou. To lhinl in leims of lhis concel of lhe
eifeclion of lhoughl, us such is lo inleiiel lhe noims involveu in
olhei concels us uils of u coheienl vhole. Among lhe noims lhul
uefne lhe concel of lhe Coou ilself uie lhese. fiom lhe fucl lhul lhe
noims of u concel iequiie some iesonse, infei lhul il is iequiieu Ly
lhe Coou, unu fiom lhe fucl lhul lhe Coou iequiies some iesonse,
infei lhul no olhei iesonse cun Le iequiieu. If ve ieuson in lhis vuy,
ve vill concluue lhul lhe noims of eveiy concel uie consislenl in
iuclice vilh lhe noims of eveiy olhei. We vill Le commilleu lo lhe
iesolulion of conficl. When lhe uemunus of uisuiule concels ueui
iniiosoinins' ixiniN+ r8 voi. r, No. q (x.v zor)
Muiuoch insisls lhul lhe lunguuge of moiul ieusons is unuvoiuuLly
iuiosynciulic unu inuccessiLle' (Muiuoch rq;o. ). Theie is no single
enu-oinl lo lhe eifecl gius of menlul concels. lheie muy Le seveiul
vuys lo uly u concel, unu lo iesonu lo ils use, lhul uie equully
unu eifeclly iueul. As ve evolve in uifeienl vuys, ve muy Lecome
incieusingly uninlelligiLle lo one unolhei, vilhoul uny of us huving
gone viong.
47
This feuluie of Muiuoch's viev mules hei oosilion
lo lhe genelic lheoiy, vilh ils emhusis on uLlic slunuuius, eseciully
shui. Bul il is nol essenliul lo il. u Plulonisl foi vhom euch concel
hus u single eifecl foim voulu slill ueny lhe genelic lheoiy unu coulu
uigue foi Moiul Inleinulism in lhe sume vuy. Anu il is olenliully ul
ouus vilh Muiuoch's seconu Plulonism, uLoul lhe unily unu ieulily
of lhe Coou, vhich sliesses conveigence, nol iuiosynciusy. Is lheie u
conliuuiclion heie` In my viev, lheie is nol. lhe ueuiunce of conficl
is sueifciul. To Lelieve in lhe Coou is lo Lelieve lhul one cun eifecl
one's gius of eveiy concel. Il is nol lo Lelieve lhul lheie is jusl one
vuy of uoing so. Belief in lhe Coou is lhus consislenl vilh lhe iivucy
of eifecl unueislunuing. Slill, on my ieuuing, lhe uocliine of iivucy
cun Le seveieu fiom lhe iesl of Muiuoch's viev. il uoes nol follov
fiom hei cenliul cluims.
The fnul lheme is in u vuy lhe fisl. Muiuoch oens hei Lool
Ly lisling, umong lhe fucls [.| vhich seem lo huve Leen foigollen
oi 'lheoiizeu uvuy'' in conlemoiuiy hilosohy, lhe fucl lhul love
is u cenliul concel in moiuls' (Muiuoch rq;o. z). The seconu essuy
of Sc.crcignt ieeuls lhe chuige. We neeu u moiul hilosohy in
vhich lhe concel of love, so iuiely menlioneu nov Ly hilosoheis,
cun once uguin Le muue cenliul' (Muiuoch rq;o. j). Auil fiom ils
illusliulive use, my uiscussion hus iuiely menlioneu love. Il fguies
inciuenlully in iefeience lo ullenlion lhe liue vision [lhul| occusions
iighl conuucl' us jusl unu loving. Bul il hus nol Leen exluineu.
;. Muiuoch's cluim muy Le less iuuicul. lhul moiul uevelomenl cun follov
uifeienl ulhs lo lhe iueul, vhich muy involve sluges of muluul incom-
iehension. I focus on lhe sliongei ieuuing in uil Lecuuse il seems moie
ioLlemulic.
hilosohicul 'ioof' [.| is lhe sume us lhe moiul 'ioof'' (Muiuoch
rq;o. ;). The iuclicul uigumenl foi lhe Coou lhul il is iulionul lo
lhinl in such leims is lhe ioof lhul Coou exisls.
As Lefoie, I uo nol meun lo enuoise Muiuoch's ieusoning Lul
lo exluin hov il voils. Hei uigumenl is conlioveisiul nol jusl in
ussuming lhe inlelligiLilily of lhe Coou Lul in ils chuiucleiizulion of lhe
concel unu ils ieliunce on lhe Plulonic lheoiy of concel-ossession.
Slill, uesile ueuiunces, Muiuoch uoes huve un uigumenl. When
she iecommenus lhe imuge of lhe Coou us u liunscenuenl mugnelic
cenlie', she is nol enguging in meie sychology oi self-hel Lul sluling
u iemise of hei onlologicul ioof. Hei concein vilh lhe meluhois
ve live Ly is nol u sign lhul hei inleiesls uie moie lileiuiy lhun
hilosohicul Lul u consequence of lhe Plulonic lheoiy, on vhich oui
concels muy ueleimine vhul ve uo unu on vhich ve cun uigue, in
moiul leims, uLoul hov lo lhinl. Mosl suiiisingly of ull, ve cun uigue
foi lhe ieulily of lhe Coou fiom ils moiul vulue us un oLjecl of ullenlion,
Llinuing Lul illuminuling, ul lhe limil of sighl.
5. Concluding Thoughts
Theie is moie in Thc Sc.crcignt cf Ccc! lhun even un exlenueu sluuy
coulu exloie. I huve uigueu lhul The Iueu of Peifeclion' mules ioom
foi Moiul Inleinulism Ly iejecling lhe genelic lheoiy of concels.
Thiough Moiul Inleinulism, Muiuoch cun uvoiu lhe ioLlem of moiul
ieusons. She neeu nol ueiive fiom lhe nuluie of ugency oi lhe vill
u sensilivily lo moiul conceins. The iesl of lhe Lool uefenus u foim
of Plulonism uLoul concels lhul vinuicules Moiul Inleinulism, unu u
seconu Plulonism, uLoul lhe unily of iulionul noims unu lhe exislence
of lhe Coou. I enu Ly louching on lvo fuilhei lhemes, lhe fisl of
vhich cun Le fiumeu us un oLjeclion.
Wilh lhe exumle of M unu D, Muiuoch shovs hov oui gius of
menlul concels cun ueeen unu giov, hov il cun liunscenu vhul vus
uuienl in lheii ucquisilion. She goes on lo mule u moie sluilling
cluim, vhich she ieeuls moie lhun once, lhul lhe movemenl of
unueislunuing is onvuiu inlo incieusing iivucy' (Muiuoch rq;o. z8).
iniiosoinins' ixiniN+ rq voi. r, No. q (x.v zor)
onlologicul ioof, foi u secului inleiielulion of love youi neighLoui
us youiself'` To comlele lhe ieuuing of Sc.crcignt, one voulu huve
lo voil lhiough lhe ielulionshi of love lo liulh unu lo lhe Coou. Cne
voulu huve lo exluin vhy 'Acl lovingly' [vill| liunslule 'Acl eifeclly',
vheieus 'Acl iulionully' vill nol' (Muiuoch rq;o. qq). Anu one voulu
huve lo squuie lhis vilh lhe fucl lhul love is cuuLle of infnile
uegiuuulion unu is lhe souice of oui gieulesl eiiois' (Muiuoch rq;o.
roo). Though I cunnol uo lhese lhings, I um olimislic lhul lhey cun Le
uone, lhul lhe lines conveige, unu lhul vilh iefnemenl oi ueeening,
ve cun come lo unueislunu lhe concel love us Muiuoch uoes.
50
References
Anlonuccio, M. zooo. Iicturing thc Hunun. Thc Mcru| Thcught cf Iris
Mur!cch. Cxfoiu. Cxfoiu Univeisily Piess.
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unu lo un uuuience ul lhe Pucifc APA. Seciul lhunls lo lhe unonymous ieuu-
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Muiuoch's lheoiy of love is iniliully uzzling. Why shoulu uccuiule
eicelion of unolhei, even vilh eifecl gius of lhe concels ulieu,
go ulong vilh love, nol loulhing oi conleml` Suose D ieully veie
liiesome unu juvenile, oi, if lhose uie uefeclive concels, consiuei lhe
cleui-eyeu conlemlulion of lhe miseiy unu evil of lhe voilu' (Muiuoch
rq;o. jq). Musl lhe ugenls of evil Le oLjecls of love` Muiuoch's lhoughl
is lhul lhey musl. The uii of uiuuox in lhis cluim cun Le uissolveu in
uil Ly ieculling lhul lhe love in queslion is nol seleclive il is nol
fonuness oi ufeclion oi lhe uesiie foi inlimucy Lul love us u moiul
emolion.
48
(The exumle of M unu D is misleuuing in lhis iesecl. Il
is un ucciuenl lhul lhe oLjecl of M's loving guze is hei uuughlei-in-luv,
nol u muiueiei oi un ucquuinlunce ul voil.) The love lhul inleiesls
Muiuoch is lhe love one shoulu huve foi one's neighLoui lhul is, foi
unyone vilh vhom one inleiucls.
49
If love in lhis sense is uiliul, lhul is
only Lecuuse ve uie limileu. Love is lhe exliemely uimcull ieulisulion
lhul somelhing olhei lhun oneself is ieul' (Muiuoch rqjq. zrj). Since
eveiyone is ieul, ve oughl lo love lhem ull. Il uoes nol follov fiom lhis
lhul ve shoulu feel ufeclion foi eveiyone oi lhul ve shoulu uisue
lheii inleiesls. Love involves liue vision' unu leuus us lo ucl lovuius
olheis us ve uie moiully iequiieu lo ucl. Il mighl Le oul of love lhul ve
ievenl lhem fiom uoing huim, oi Leiule lhem, oi iefuse lo ussociule
vilh lhem.
The queslion I leuve ununsveieu heie is vhelhei ve cun lieul
Muiuoch's use of love' in lhe moiul conlexl us moie lhun quixolic.
Whul uoes love us liue vision huve lo uo vilh love in uny oiuinuiy
sense` Aie lheie muleiiuls in lhe Plulonic lheoiy of concels, oi in lhe
8. Comuie Vellemun, vho ciles Muiuoch in suoil of his Kunliun viev. ie-
secl unu love [uie| lhe iequiieu minimum unu olionul muximum iesons-
es lo one unu lhe sume vulue', lhul of eisonhoou oi iulionul vill (Vellemun
rqqq. 66). Ioi Vellemun, love uisuims oui emolionul iesonses unu involves
ieully looling' ul lhe eison ve love (Vellemun rqqq. 6r). Desile lhe ieso-
nunce, lhis invoculion of Muiuoch cunnol Le iighl. The love lhul involves
ieully looling', foi Muiuoch, is nol olionul Lul iequiieu, unu uiiecleu nol ul
oui iulionul nuluies Lul ul oui moiully umLiguous menlul lives.
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