布伦塔诺《道德认识的来源》书评

Review of Franz Brentano’s The Origin of the Knowledge of Right and Wrong

本文是摩尔对布伦塔诺内在价值理论的评价。一方面,摩尔盛赞了布伦塔诺伦理理论的三个洞见:伦理基础的客观性、善好对象的多样性以及对目的善与手段善的区分;另一方面,摩尔也试图指出布伦塔诺内在价值理论的失当之处:其一,摩尔认为布伦塔诺把伦理基础置于“正当之爱”上的尝试忽视了“正当性”概念的本质,这导致布伦塔诺对内在价值的分析并不成功。其二,在总量原则上,摩尔认为布伦塔诺没有认识到内在价值的整体和部分间的复杂关系,而这最终会造成较为严重的道德后果。

This article is concerned with G.E.Moore s assessment of Brentano s theory of intrinsic value. In this paper,Moore strongly praises three insights in Brentano s ethical theory: the objectivity of the ethical foundation,the plurality of object which has intrinsic value and the distinction between what is merely a means to good and what is good in itself. In addition,Moore also tries to elucidate the deficiency of Brentano s theory of intrinsic value. To begin with,according to Moore,Brentano pays insufficient attention to the nature of the concept of “rightness”,which can be illustrated clearly when Brentano attempts to regard “right love” as a firm ground of ethical principle. And based on this mistake,Brentano develops an unsuccessful analysis of intrinsic value. Furthermore,the principle of summation maintained by Brentano wrongly presents the complex connection between the whole and parts in intrinsic value,which will lead to some morally horrible outcomes.