Ethics and Moral Life in the 18th Century: A New Take on Early Modern Ethics

Introduction

Early modern ethics has so far been investigated with regard to the debates on the foundations of morality, moral knowledge, and the status of moral principles. Despite their achievements, the main limit of previous studies is that they have largely disregarded the distinctive purpose of ethics in that age, that is, to provide guidance about specific moral issues.

Purpose of Ethics

Even the discussion on the abstract topics on which most studies have focused was, in fact, sustained by the purpose of providing the appropriate tools for leading a good life. This applies especially to 18th-century moral philosophers, who devoted most of their efforts to an all-encompassing examination of the most significant demands in all areas of morality, presenting themselves as moral experts.

Project Focus

In sharp contrast to previous scholarship, the present project centres on that underlying ambition. The focus will be the raison d’être of 18th-century treatments of morality, that is, to provide practical guidance. Thereby, the project intends to re-orient the studies on the history of early modern ethics.

Innovation

The proposed research will be highly innovative both:

1. Because of its topics
2. Because of its approach

Topics

The project gives prominence to neglected clusters of issues that defined the main concern of 18th-century moral philosophers:

• The duties to oneself and others
• The moral relevance of our conduct towards animals
• The extent of disagreement about moral questions

Approach

Unlike most current scholarship, the investigation will have not a monographic, but a thematic and comparative approach, examining different takes on the same issues.

Broader Impact

On both sides, the project has in view an impact that goes well beyond the mere scope of the proposed research, by suggesting a much broader perspective on a distinctive contribution of philosophy to European culture, which offers insights on currently much discussed issues about the status and aims of ethics.