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Acts, Omissions, and Common Sense Morality

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2020

Laurence Thomas
Laurence Thomas*
Affiliation:
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
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Extract

Common Sense Morality condemns us for being indifferent to the suffering of others. Even so, it sharply distinguishes between this and our knowingly and needlessly contributing to the suffering of others. (That we are talking about voluntary behavior throughout is to be understood.) And it holds that the latter constitutes the greater moral wrong. It would seem that common sense morality is not without a point. From the premise that a person knowingly and needlessly takes steps to cause others to suffer, it would certainly be correct for us to conclude that he desires to see others suffer and is sufficiently motivated by this desire that he brings about the suffering of others.

Type
Research Article
Information
Canadian Journal of Philosophy Supplementary Volume , Volume 8: New Essays in Ethics and Public Policy , 1982 , pp. 37 - 46
Copyright
Copyright © The Authors 1982

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