A Study Of Moral Philosophy Of Moral Luck

Objectivity has always been the central issue of modern philosophy,but it is the root of many ethical differences.Therefore,modern moral philosophy,which is mainly marked by rationality,has fallen into the dilemma of worship of principles,and moral objectivity is faced with numerous crices.Then a post-Kantian question emerges:Is the rational view of morality tenable?Are ethical legislation and rules of action are possible?In this context,philosophers such as Bernard Williams and Thomas Nagel started to seek solutions to the problems from the daily ethical life and rethink the ancient ethical proposition “how to live”.On the basic of questioning the moral philosophy of rationalism,Williams put forward the new concept of “moral luck”,which challenged the two modern normaive ethics of Kantism and utilitarianism and played a positive role in promoting the revial of contemporary moral ethics.In ethical practice,as an uncertain factor existing in life and beyond the agent’s initiative,luck is always inescapable.There are a mass of uncontrollable and accidental factors permeate all aspects in our life.There is on exception in the field of morality.Moral judgment and evaluation of behaviors are often mixed with uncertain factors highlighting the problem of moral luck.We could find that it does not have the subversive power of modern moral philosophy that Williams agrees with by trying to solve the problem of moral luck.But it does exist in our moral practice and have an impact on the evaluation of the actors in a certain extent.Normative ethcis based on universal rationality assumes that people could impartially establish the universal objectivity of morality,but there are many things could affect our moral evaluation in our life,just like emotion,character and environment.We cannot put aside all the accidental factors in our moral evaluation activities.Agents are not only responsible for the controllable part of the event,but also they will be responsible for uncontrollable factors in many cases.Philosophers have to examine once again the issue of moral objectivity when luck does influence moral values.There in no ethical system can completely eliminate the intrusion of luck and bring us into the undisputed field of morality.From ancient Greek Aristotelian ehthics to modern Kantism and utilitarianism,to the rise of contemporary virtue ethics,it is the ethical divergence that deepens our understanding of morality and promotes the development of ethical theories.The emergence of moral luck once again makes us rethink the universal law estabished by modern morality.In ethical practice,people are often in conflict situations.All kinds of exceptions abound in every corner of life.At the same time,there are differences in individual talent,environment and status.We cannot completely avoid the contingency and complexity brought by luck.The simple and clear picture of human moral life sketched by universal laws can hardly cope with the ever-changing complex life scenes.Kantian ethics is too strict to reject the influence of luck.It is unreasonable to delineate morality in the categery of agency.This view runs counter to the everyday intuition of ethical prctice.Utilitarianism tries to make precise moral calculations,but falls into the dilemma of excessive luck.Virtue ethics properly accepts moral luck and recognizes the existence of luck.But it may face the crisis of losing principle.The three main ethical theories have their own defects in their views on luck.They all hold too strict or too tolerant moral demands in the face of moral dilemmas.Williams and Nagel start from the origin of life,admit the existence of luck and demonstrates the moral value of luck.But the existence of moral luck is in the controversial ethical community as a kind of bitter.Many philosophers advocate Williams’ point of view since moral luck is put forward.They recognise the role of luck in the moral field.However,there is a lot of opposition in the academic circle.The opponents don’t agree with that moral luck pose a real threat to moral objectivity.This paper starts with Williams’ moral luck thought.It explains the basic connotation and significance of moral luck.It also analyzes the generation,development,evolution and significance of moral luck deeply.It also sorts out the problems of moral luck in the three western ethical systems.From the ancient Greek Aristotle blenders luck view to Kant’s “morality is free from luck”modern moral philosophy,and then to the utilitarianism disregard for luck and the virtue ethics has a limited acceptance of luck,this paper explores the tension of free will,moral responsibility and moral luck.We set forth the pros and cons of luck among contemporary philosophers.Finally,we stand on the position of the Aristotelian harmony of luck and reveal that the happy life of people must be affected by external luck.However,as a rational being,good internal quality and practical wisdom can make us minimize the influence of luck.We confirm that “moral luck” is truly existing in our ethical life by analysising moral practice.We adimit that luck have influence on our moral life.But its influence on moral evaluation and moral responsibility is limited and conditional.The idea of moral luck can only be true in certain contexts.At the end of the paper,we reveal the significance of moral luck and the significant enlightenment to our moral action.