The Good in the Right

The Good in the Right presents a systematic ethical framework that combines Kantian deontology with intuitionist moral philosophy. Robert Audi develops his theory of moral knowledge and moral motivation while engaging with contemporary debates in epistemology and metaethics. The book addresses fundamental questions about the nature of moral truth and how humans can access moral knowledge through reason and intuition. Audi examines the relationship between moral principles, moral emotions, and practical judgment while defending a moderate version of moral realism. Through detailed analysis of concepts like duty, virtue, and the good, Audi builds a case for ethical intuitionism that avoids the common criticisms of traditional intuitionist approaches. He integrates insights from psychology and cognitive science to support his account of moral perception and moral learning. The work contributes to ongoing discussions about the foundations of ethics and the possibility of objective moral knowledge. Its synthesis of Kantian and intuitionist ideas offers a distinctive perspective on how moral truth relates to human rationality and experience.

Readers appreciate Audi's systematic approach to combining intuitionism with Kantian principles in moral philosophy. Multiple reviews note the clarity of his arguments connecting rationality and objectivity in ethics. Several academic reviewers highlight his measured handling of the relationship between religion and ethics. Common criticisms focus on the dense technical language and complex argumentation that make sections difficult for non-specialists. Some readers found the engagement with religious perspectives insufficient. A few reviews mention that the book takes too long to reach its main arguments. "Clear but requires serious concentration" notes one Amazon reviewer. Another writes "Important contribution but could be more accessible." Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (12 ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (6 reviews) Google Books: 4/5 (3 reviews) The book receives more attention in academic philosophy journals than consumer review sites, with most scholarly reviews appearing positive while acknowledging its challenging nature.

Moral Realism and the Foundations of Ethics by Nicholas Russ Presents a defense of moral realism through epistemological arguments and explores the relationship between moral facts and natural facts.

The Right and the Good by W. D. Ross Develops an intuitionist account of moral knowledge and duty through the examination of prima facie obligations.

Value and Virtue in a Godless Universe by Erik J. Wielenberg Establishes an objective moral framework independent of theological foundations while addressing moral realism and ethical naturalism.

Natural Goodness by Philippa Foot Constructs a naturalistic theory of ethics based on the evaluation of living things and their characteristics in relation to their species.

Moral Knowledge and Ethical Character by Robert Audi Connects moral epistemology with virtue ethics while examining the foundations of moral judgment and knowledge.

🔹 Robert Audi developed his ethical intuitionism while maintaining that moral truths can be known through both intuition and reason, bridging what many saw as a gap between rationalist and intuitionist approaches to ethics. 🔹 The book's title "The Good in the Right" references the two fundamental ethical concepts that Audi explores: the good (what brings value) and the right (what we ought to do), showing how they interconnect in moral decision-making. 🔹 Audi's work draws significantly on W.D. Ross's theory of prima facie duties, but modernizes it by incorporating contemporary developments in moral psychology and epistemology. 🔹 The book presents a unique synthesis of Kantian ethics and moral intuitionism, two approaches that were historically seen as being in tension with each other. 🔹 Published in 2004, this book helped spark a revival of interest in moral intuitionism, which had fallen out of favor in academic philosophy during much of the 20th century.