 Bertrand Russell Quotes 366 |
We may perhaps distinguish "subjective" and "objective" rightness, saying that a man's conduct has "subjective" rightness when it is what his own conscience approves, but that this does not insure "objective" rightness. In that case, the question "what ought I to do?" is ambiguous. If "ought" is taken in the sense of subjective rightness, I ought to follow my conscience, but if in the sense of objective rightness (which remains to be defined), my action will have to satisfy some less personal test before it can be approved. If we admit, as I think we must, that not all consciences are perfect, we shall be compelled to seek for a concept of "objective rightness" by which consciences can be judged.
Source: Bertrand Russell: Human Society in Ethics and Politics, (1954), chapter 5
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