Mencius, Hume and the Foundations of Ethics / Edition 1

by Xiusheng Liu

Overview

What is the most distinctive feature of human nature? Does human nature play any significant role in explaining ethical objectivity? How do we arrive at moral judgments? What is the relationship between moral judgments and moral motivation? In answering these questions, this book defends a naturalist, realist and internalist theory of the foundations of ethics. This theory, grounded on a particular concept of humanity, combines insights from Mencius and David Hume. The views of each show how important features left underdeveloped by the other can be supplemented and refined. The unified theory that results is a robust contender among current ethical theories. This illuminating book, relating Chinese and Western philosophical traditions, presents a unique account of the unity of the virtues in Mencius, breaks new ground in Hume studies through its discussion of the concept of sympathy in Hume's theory, and brings combined insights to bear on contemporary analytical theories of ethics.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780754604068
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	03/28/2003
Series:	Ashgate World Philosophies Series
Pages:	216
Product dimensions:	6.12(w) x 9.19(h) x (d)

About the Author

Xiusheng Liu

Table of Contents

Contents: Introduction; Sympathy, humanity and moral sentiment; Humanity, nature, and the unity of the virtues; Experience, sensibility, and moral objectivity; Reason, morality, and moral epistemology; Motivation, judgement, and Mencian internalism; Appendix: Aristotle on actuality and potentiality; Bibliography; Index.

Editorial Reviews

'... Liu's book is a high-quality, analytic piece in comparative studies and ethics. It is clear, well argued, and original... It should be warmly welcomed and well received by both specialists and advanced students in comparative studies or ethics.' Dao: A Journal of Comparative Philosophy

From the Publisher