The Purpose of Ethical Study

• There are three chief views on the purpose of studying ethics.

• (a) Some thinkers maintain that ethics is purely theoretical, aiming to understand the nature of morality without intending to affect conduct.

• F. H. Bradley denied that ethics could provide “a universal rule and canon for every possible case”.

• Bradley viewed casuistry—applying ethical principles to doubtful practical cases—as “unlovely in life and more unpleasant in decay”.

• (b) Other thinkers argue the main purpose of ethics is to influence actual conduct.

• Dr. G. E. Moore called casuistry “the goal of ethical investigation” and believed ethics should guide men in the art of living.

• (c) A third group, likely the largest, believes ethics is primarily theoretical, concerned with discovering moral truth, but must include constant criticism of existing moral standards.

• For this group, ethics becomes practical almost unintentionally.

• Supporters of the first view are influenced by the disrepute of casuistry, as seen in Bradley’s strong condemnation.

• They are also influenced by the opinion that ethical theory makes little difference to practice.

• Mackenzie noted that even if different people followed Kant, J. S. Mill, T. H. Green, or G. E. Moore, careful interpretation would lead to little substantial disagreement on moral issues.

• Understanding a thinker’s attitude toward casuistry is essential, as it determines their view on the relation of theory to practice.