Moral Worth in Gettier Cases

This paper presents a counterexample to the view that moral knowledge is necessary for moral worth. Justified true beliefs that an action is right confer the same degree of moral worth, whether or not they constitute knowledge. This is demonstrated with an example called "Texting the Rabbi" in which two people receive answers to moral questions – one from a wise rabbi, the other from a thief who stole the rabbi's phone and gives the same answer as the rabbi by chance. While this makes the questioners differ in moral knowledge, it creates no difference in moral worth.

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Publication Details

Journal
Journal of Ethics and Social Philosophy
Published
2024-11-29
DOI
https://doi.org/10.26556/jesp.v29i1.3129
Primary Topic
Legal principles and applications
Type
article
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article

Moral Worth in Gettier Cases

Neil Sinhababu
Journal of Ethics and Social Philosophy
Legal principles and applications
article

Moral Worth in Gettier Cases

Neil Sinhababu
article en

Abstract

This paper presents a counterexample to the view that moral knowledge is necessary for moral worth. Justified true beliefs that an action is right confer the same degree of moral worth, whether or not they constitute knowledge. This is demonstrated with an example called "Texting the Rabbi" in which two people receive answers to moral questions – one from a wise rabbi, the other from a thief who stole the rabbi's phone and gives the same answer as the rabbi by chance. While this makes the questioners differ in moral knowledge, it creates no difference in moral worth.

Journal of Ethics and Social PhilosophyVol. 29(1)
Peace, Justice and strong institutions
Openalex Percentile: Top 60%
Legal principles and applications
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Moral Worth in Gettier Cases — Neil Sinhababu · Journal of Ethics and Social Philosophy (2024) | TGRS Research Map | TGRS