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HUME'S GENERAL POINT OF VIEW: A TWO‐STAGE APPROACH
Author(s) -
BenMoshe Nir
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
pacific philosophical quarterly
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.914
H-Index - 32
eISSN - 1468-0114
pISSN - 0279-0750
DOI - 10.1111/papq.12319
Subject(s) - point (geometry) , observer (physics) , epistemology , ideal (ethics) , virtue , philosophy , computer science , general theory , mathematical economics , mathematics , physics , geometry , quantum mechanics
I offer a novel two‐stage reconstruction of Hume's general‐point‐of‐view account, modeled in part on his qualified‐judges account in ‘Of the Standard of Taste’. In particular, I argue that the general point of view needs to be jointly constructed by spectators who have sympathized with (at least some of) the agents in (at least some of) the actor's circles of influence. The upshot of the account is twofold. First, Hume's later thought developed in such a way that it can rectify the problems inherent in his Treatise account of the general point of view. Second, the proposed account provides the grounds for an adequate and well‐motivated modest ideal observer theory of the standard of virtue.