Scholar

G. E. Moore

1873–1958 · Intuitionist; coined the naturalistic fallacy and the open-question argument.

Biography

G. E. Moore argued in Principia Ethica that 'good' is simple, indefinable and non-natural, known by intuition. Defining it as a natural property commits the naturalistic fallacy.

Key Ideas

  • Good is indefinable (like yellow).
  • The naturalistic fallacy.
  • The open-question argument.
  • Intuitionism.

Topics Appearing In

Exam Importance

Central to Meta-Ethics (intuitionism) and a key AO2 critic of Natural Law (naturalistic fallacy).

Works to explore

Use these titles to locate the scholar's argument in context. Edition-specific commercial recommendations are kept on the component reading lists.

  • G. E. Moore — Principia Ethica (by the scholar)