The good in the right: A theory of intuition and instrinsic value

Abstract

Ethical intuitionism offers a foundational account of morality based on an irreducible plurality of prima facie duties that are non-inferentially knowable through reflection. While these basic principles possess a form of self-evidence, they are not dogmatic or immune to revision; rather, they serve as the data of ethics that reflection seeks to bring into equilibrium. This pluralistic approach gains theoretical unity through an integration with Kantian ethics, wherein the categorical imperative provides a comprehensive rational framework for organizing and grounding disparate duties without negating their independent epistemic authority. Furthermore, moral rightness is inextricably linked to a theory of intrinsic value. By identifying the experiential and inherent goods that underpin human dignity—such as autonomy, liberty, and justice—the framework demonstrates how fulfilling moral obligations constitutes a realization of value in action. This synthesis of deontology and axiology facilitates the development of specific middle-level axioms suitable for practical ethics, distinguishing between duties of matter (prescribed actions) and duties of manner (the spirit of their execution). The resulting value-based Kantian intuitionism reconciles the spontaneity of individual moral judgment with the systematic requirements of comprehensive ethical theory, ensuring that moral conduct remains both rationally grounded and conducive to human flourishing. – AI-generated abstract.