Since the nineteenth century, moral philosophy in the Western
world has been dominated by utilitarianism, Kantianism, and
relativism. Only a few philosophers have been able to escape from
this Procrustean bed. Foremost among these few is Nicolai Hartmann
(1882-1950). Together with Henri Bergson and Martin Heidegger,
Hartmann was instrumental in restoring metaphysics. Hartmann's
metaphysics differs markedly from that of both Bergson and
Heidegger, in his indebtedness to Plato.
In 1926, Hartmann published a massive treatise, "Ethik," which
was translated into English by Stanton Coit and published as
"Ethics" in 1932. "Ethics" is probably the most outstanding
treatise on moral philosophy in the twentieth century. The central
concept of the book is "value." Drawing upon the pre-modern view of
ethics, Hartmann maintains that values are objectively given, part
and parcel of the order of being. We cannot invent values, we can
merely discover them.
The first part of "Ethics" is concerned with the structure of
ethical phenomena and criticizes utilitarianism, Kantianism, and
relativism as misleading approaches. After some introductory
thoughts concerning the competence of practical philosophy,
Hartmann discusses the essence of moral values, including their
absoluteness and ideal being, and the essence of the "ought."
Hartmann is both controversial and compelling. He provides a moral
philosophy that rejects the subjectivism of the ruling approaches,
without taking recourse to older theological notions on the
foundation of the ethical. In sum: Hartmann's Ethics constitutes an
impressive and preeminent contribution to moral philosophy.
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