The Moral Obligation to be Intelligent

Other Essays

English · 1915 · 2h 26m · Essays & Short Works, Philosophy

In this collection of four essays, John Erskine asks what it means to use intelligence as a moral faculty. Thinking clearly, he suggests, can shape not only what we believe but also what we admire and where we place our loyalties.

Rather than treating reason as separate from feeling, Erskine considers how reflection might make admiration and allegiance both more sensible and more worthy. The essays approach a shared question from different angles, inviting listeners to examine the judgments behind their convictions.

First published in 1915, Moral Obligation to Be Intelligent is a work of philosophical reflection for listeners interested in the ethical responsibilities of thought and the connection between judgment and character.