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Utilitarianism with a Humean Face

Utilitarianism with a Humean Face Elizabeth Ashford Hume Studies, Volume 31, Number 1, April 2005, pp. 63-92 (Article) Published by Hume Society DOI: https://doi.org/10.1353/hms.2011.0177 For additional information about this article https://muse.jhu.edu/article/383275/summary Access provided at 17 Feb 2020 18:11 GMT from JHU Libraries Hume Studies Volume 31, Number 1, April 2005, pp. 63-92 ELIZABETH ASHFORD Introduction There is a long-standing debate over whether or not Hume's moral theory1 should be viewed as some version of utilitarianism.2 Among opponents of a utilitarian reading, many contrast the subtlety and psychological plausibility of Hume's ac- count of morality with what they take to be utilitarianism's failure both to capture the complexity of morality and to be suited to the nature of human beings.3 Geoffrey Sayre-McCord is, in my view, one of the most incisive and forceful advocates of this position.4 He interprets Hume as an exponent of what he calls the "Bauhaus theory" of ethics. The Bauhaus theory avoids a commitment to a single overarching moral principle by which to solve all moral questions. On this view, the virtues are each well-suited to solving a particular problem which we find col- lectively salient when we take up the general point of view, " and different problems may demand http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Hume Studies Hume Society

Utilitarianism with a Humean Face

Hume Studies , Volume 31 (1) – Jan 26, 2011

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Publisher
Hume Society
ISSN
1947-9921

Abstract

Elizabeth Ashford Hume Studies, Volume 31, Number 1, April 2005, pp. 63-92 (Article) Published by Hume Society DOI: https://doi.org/10.1353/hms.2011.0177 For additional information about this article https://muse.jhu.edu/article/383275/summary Access provided at 17 Feb 2020 18:11 GMT from JHU Libraries Hume Studies Volume 31, Number 1, April 2005, pp. 63-92 ELIZABETH ASHFORD Introduction There is a long-standing debate over whether or not Hume's moral theory1 should be viewed as some version of utilitarianism.2 Among opponents of a utilitarian reading, many contrast the subtlety and psychological plausibility of Hume's ac- count of morality with what they take to be utilitarianism's failure both to capture the complexity of morality and to be suited to the nature of human beings.3 Geoffrey Sayre-McCord is, in my view, one of the most incisive and forceful advocates of this position.4 He interprets Hume as an exponent of what he calls the "Bauhaus theory" of ethics. The Bauhaus theory avoids a commitment to a single overarching moral principle by which to solve all moral questions. On this view, the virtues are each well-suited to solving a particular problem which we find col- lectively salient when we take up the general point of view, " and different problems may demand

Journal

Hume StudiesHume Society

Published: Jan 26, 2011

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