ɯ·ò´Ä²®Àû The Moral Emotions Theory

The Enlightenment Movement occurred in 18 Century is the opening of the modernity. A good many of modern philosophy thoughts are formed in this period.The Moral Sentimental Ethics,the typical thought in Britain,which is one of very important ethics theory in the entire western history.Shaftesburyâ…¢,a well-known British Philosopher,set up sentimental as the base of moral firstly.Before this,moral rationalism is the approach to explain moral system. To some extent,rationalism becomes gradually a kind of metaphysics,and the Moral Sentimental Ethics is provided to solve the problem.The Moral Sentimental Ethics is based on the philosophy accomplishment from Ancient Greek to the Enlightenment. Shaftesbury tries to establish the moral theory on human nature,and find the "moral sense" or "sense of right and wrong" in human nature.He defines the "goodness" and "virtue" in a new way.And thought "goodness" is to contribute to the existence and well-being of the whole system."virtue" is a kind of "goodness".Resorting to Platonism,shaftesbury argues the universe is an orderly system same with the human society.Only human can be called virtue,because only human has the "moral sense" or "sense of right and wrong",which is a kind of judgment or the ability to tell right from wrong.By distinguishing the mental happiness and body happiness,shaftesbury determines that virtue leads to happiness.Shaftesbury is the forthgoer in moral sentimental theory.With no doubt,there are limitations in it.The successor will improve and develop the view.Such as Butler's "conscience and self-love ";Hutcheson's further "moral sense";Hume and Smith's "sympathy" and so on.The Moral Sentimental Ethics has limitations.And Macintyre who highly supports Aristotle's Virtue Ethics determines the moral sentimental Ethics makes its demonstration of the origin of moral fail.However,it does leave a great fortune to the successor.In the time when reason is so popular in the society,it really is a huge courage spirit for Shaftesbury to set up a moral building based on sentiment. From his successor Hutcheson,the Moral Sentimental Ethics starts evolving to Utilitarianism;and from Hume,axiology became more and more important.It is a real complex and arduous work to find the access to the origin of moral.However,it is worthy to do continuing research on this proposition.