The Journal of Philosophy - C.I. Lewis on the Ground and Nature of the Right - September 17, 1964

Sep 21, 2026

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A journal issue of The Journal of Philosophy centers on an article by C.I. Lewis addressing the ground and nature of the right. The text argues that any sense of right and wrong presupposes prior recognition of what is good or evil in experience, then separates the necessity of such knowledge from the further problem of which good and whose good actions should promote. It critiques settling ethical issues by definition, and emphasizes that ethical principles are not purely analytic, even if some claims about rightness can be analytically true.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages32

Reading Time1 h 21 min

AccessFree to download

C.I. Lewis on the Ground and Nature of the Right

The presupposition of good and evil in experience

From rightness to the further question of whose and which good

Critique of definition-based resolution

Formal/neutral guidance for rational action

PLEASE DO NOT MOVE THE JOURNAL OF PHILOSOPHY VOL.LXI, No.17:SEPTEMBER 17,1964 # C.I.Lewis on the Ground and Nature of the Right:WILLIAM …………………………………………489 K. FRANKENA …………………………… # On the Meaning of Scientific Terms: PETER ACHINSTEIN ……497 Book Reviews J.J.C. SMART:Philosophy and Scientifc Realism:DAVID HAWKINS 509 JoE PARE:Bertrand Russell on Education;and J.J.CHAMBLISS: Boya H.Bode's Philosophy of Education:JoNAS F. SOLTIS .. 512 ……………………………516 Notes and News …………………… PUBLISHED FORTNIGHTLY BY THE JOURNAL OF PHILOSOPHY, INC. FoUNDED BY FREDERICK J.E.WoODBRIDGE AND WENDELL T.BUSH EDITOES:John H.Randall,Jr.,Sidney Morgenbesser,Arthur Danto,andJames J.Walsh. CoNSULTING EDITORS:Herbert w.Schneider,José Ferrater Mora,andGeorge L.Kline. MANAGING EDITOR:Leigh S.Cauman. Communications to the editors should be addressed to the Managing Edi-tor,720 Philosophy Hall,Columbia University,New York,N.Y.,10027.Subscriptions and advertisements should be sent to THE JOURNALOF PHILOSOPHY,720 Philosophy Hall,Columbia University,NewYork,N.Y,10027.The annual subscription price(24 numbers)is $7.50;to students,$6.00.The price of single numbers is $0.50;double numbers,$1.00;complete volumes(from 1960 on),$12.00. THE JOURNAL OF PHILOSOPHY is owned by the Journal ofPhilosophy,Ince.,and published bi-weekly(every four weeks in Julyand August)by Lancaster Press,Ine.,Prince and Lemon Sts.,Lan-caster,Pa.,17604.Editorial Office:720 Philosophy Hall,ColumbiaUniversity,New_York,N.Y,10027.President,Albert G.Redpath;Vice President,John H.Randall,Jr.;Treasurer,Frederick A.Dewey;Secretary,Corliss Lamont. Second-class postage paid at Lancaster,Pa. # THE POLITICS OF CONSCIENCET.H.Green and His AgeBy MELVIN RICHTER Few other thinkers exerted a greater influence upon Britishthought and public policy between 1880 and 1914 than T.H.Green.Applying techniques of analysis taken from the his-tory of ideas and sociology,this book reveals for the first timethe full range of his influence.$7.50THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE CHURCH FATHERSFaith,Trinity,Incarnation By HARRY AUSTRYN WOLFSON “...Wolfson takes philosophy in a very large sense,as em-bracing most of man's beliefs and thoughts on God,man,andthe universe....a work which commands attention."一Speculum.Winner of the Harvard University Press FacultyPrize.Second Edition,Revised.$10.00ARVARDUNIVERSITY PRESS # THE JOURNAL OF PHILOSOPHY C.I.LEWIS ON THE GROUND AND NATURE OFTHE RIGHT* T used to be proverbial in the Middle West that the true NewEnglander was an individualist and had a hard time makinga go of things.Clarence Lewis was a true New Englander inphilosophy:what he did was always different,and it was donethe hard way.This tendency could be illustrated by reference tohis work in logic or in the theory of knowledge,two fields in whichhis achievement was enough to give him a claim to fame.It mightalso be illustrated by his theory of value,with which he againmade one of the ranking contributions to the field.For in it hewas contending(a)that judgments of intrinsic value are basicand necessary and(b)that all judgments of value proper are em-pirical and factual,just when other pragmatists were rejectingthe conception of intrinsic value and other analytical philosopherswere rejecting all naturalistic analyses of valuation.But perhapsthe tendency I referred to is most apparent in Lewis's ethicaltheory,the part of his philosophy which he regarded as the"capstone"for the rest,but could not get worked out to his satis-faction.At any rate I shall limit myself to trying to say whatLewis was seeking to do in this area and how. I I As far as I can see,Lewis's commitments in his theory ofknowledge and valuation left it open for him to adopt any of theusual positions in normative or substantive ethies—teleological ordeontological,egoistic or utilitarian.Characteristieally,however,he took a different and difficult line.He was greatly impressedby Kant,but nevertheless rejected all

FAQs

What does the article say right and wrong depends on?

It states that any sense of right and wrong presupposes an antecedent sense of what is good or evil in experience.

Why is knowledge of good and evil necessary but not sufficient?

Because even with that knowledge, one still must determine whose good and what good should be promoted.

How does the text evaluate settling ethical questions by definition?

It argues that an issue cannot be settled by a correct definition and that the labels attached to actions do not affect their justification.

Sep 21, 2026

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