According to G.E. Moore, why can the word 'good' not be defined?

Understand the Problem

The question is asking about G.E. Moore's argument regarding the indefinability of the word 'good'. It requires understanding Moore's philosophical stance on ethics and his reasons for believing that 'good' cannot be defined in terms of natural or empirical properties.

Answer

G.E. Moore claimed that 'good' is indefinable because it is a simple, non-natural property, and attempts to define it commit the naturalistic fallacy.

G.E. Moore argued that 'good' is indefinable because it is a simple, non-natural property. He believed any attempt to define it commits the naturalistic fallacy by trying to define it in terms of natural properties.

Answer for screen readers

G.E. Moore argued that 'good' is indefinable because it is a simple, non-natural property. He believed any attempt to define it commits the naturalistic fallacy by trying to define it in terms of natural properties.

More Information

G.E. Moore's philosophical work significantly influenced 20th-century ethics. His argument against defining 'good' spurred considerable debate about the nature of ethics and value.

Tips

A common mistake is to confuse Moore's claim that 'good' is indefinable with the idea that we cannot recognize good things or actions. Moore argued we can recognize 'good' but cannot break it down into simpler components.

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