Evildoing : an attack on morality
This thesis presents a comprehensive theory of evildoing as an attack on morality, grounded in objective morality. It introduces evildoing as a distinct category of immorality, arguing that it is the relationship of evil acts to the core of morality that distinguishes them from ordinary wrongdoing. Two projects are undertaken: to provide an account of morality that can ground a theory of evildoing that is both objective and capable of systematically accommodating the diverse phenomena and definitions of evil acts, and to articulate and defend the attack on morality theory of evildoing. The challenge of the first project is met by a minimalist account of morality, structured by what I call the fundamentals of morality. The thesis defends a particular substantive account of these fundamentals, underpinned by the idea of conatus as the end of morality. Ultimately, it is conatus as the striving to persist in existence and prosper inherent in human beings that justifies the objectivity of the fundamentals of morality and with it the objectivity of the theory of evildoing, for it is these fundamentals that are attacked when we speak of an âattack on morality.â Specifying and defending the conditions necessary
Harrosh, Shlomit
Philosophy ; Ethics (Moral philosophy) ; Practical ethics ; evil ; evildoing ; attack on morality ; end of morality ; fundamentals of morality ; conatus
Evildoing : an attack on morality. This thesis presents a comprehensive theory of evildoing as an attack on morality, grounded in objective morality. It introduces evildoing as a distinct category of immorality, arguing that it is the relationship of evil acts to the core of morality that distinguishes them from ordinary wrongdoing. Two projects are undertaken: to provide an account of morality that can ground a theory of evildoing that is both objective and capable of systematically accommodating the diverse phenomena and definitions of evil acts, and to articulate and defend the attack on morality theory of evildoing. The challenge of the first project is met by a minimalist account of morality, structured by what I call the fundamentals of morality. The thesis defends a particular substantive account of these fundamentals, underpinned by the idea of conatus as the end of morality. Ultimately, it is conatus as the striving to persist in existence and prosper inherent in human beings that justifies the objectivity of the fundamentals of morality and with it the objectivity of the theory of evildoing, for it is these fundamentals that are attacked when we speak of an âattack on morality.â Specifying and defending the conditions necessary
attack morality present_comprehensive theory attack morality ground objective morality introduces distinct_category argue relationship evil act core morality distinguishes ordinary project undertaken provide_account morality ground_theory objective capable systematically accommodate diverse phenomena definition evil act articulate defend attack morality theory challenge first project meet minimalist account morality structure call fundamental morality defends particular substantive account fundamental underpinned idea end morality ultimately strive persist existence prosper inherent human_being justifies objectivity fundamental morality objectivity theory fundamental attack speak attack morality defend condition necessary