Principia Ethica · Chapter
Epigraph explained
The chapter presents a single epigraph from Bishop Butler: 'Everything is what it is, And not another thing.' This concise statement establishes a foundational principle of identity and logical clarity, suggesting that things have an intrin
What happens
The chapter presents a single epigraph from Bishop Butler: 'Everything is what it is, And not another thing.' This concise statement establishes a foundational principle of identity and logical clarity, suggesting that things have an intrinsic nature that cannot be reduced to or confused with something else.
Themes in this chapter
Method of Ethical Reasoning
The epigraph underscores the importance of precise definitions and logical clarity in ethical reasoning, rejecting equivocation or reductionism.
Key passages
“Everything is what it is, And not another thing.”
Each thing has its own distinct identity and cannot be mistaken for something else.
This principle of identity serves as a logical foundation for Moore's critique of naturalistic fallacy, where ethical terms are wrongly equated with natural properties.