MODR 1730 Chapter Notes - Chapter 1: Mary Midgley, Moral Reasoning
17 Nov 2018
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Reading notes: contemporary moral problems pg. 34-38 mary midgley: trying out one"s new sword . Mary talks about moral isolationism: the view of anthropologists and relativists that we cannot criticize other cultures we do not understand. She argues that moral isolationism is essentially a belief of immoralism because it forbids moral reasoning. It consists of denying that we can ever understand any culture except out own well enough to make judgements about it. Those who recommend this believe that the world is sharply divided into separate societies, sealed units, each with its own system of thought. People usually take it up because they think it is a respectful attitude to other cultures, however, it is not. To respect someone, we have to know enough about them to make a favourable judgement. Intelligent outsiders can do so, and in some ways it will be at an advantage over the locals.
