I
want to go back to the definition of "X is good" that
Professor Sidqwick suggested. It was a simplified version of David
Wong's analysis.
Our simplified version was that "A ought to do X" means
that "Under circumstances C, if A does not do X, A would be
breaking a rule in an applicable moral system."
It seems to me that any useful analysis of "X is good"
should allow us to account for the fact that people argue about what
is good. We do have serious moral disagreements. And these
disagreements can be especially harsh when people disagree
fundamentally. Now, let's say that two people (or two cultures) make
moral judgments using two different sets of rules or principles. On Wong's
definition, both judgments may be true. It looks as though there
is no disagreement. But isn't that a mistake?