MOORE, George Edward

A formative influence along with Bertrand Russell in the challenging the Idealist tradition of philosophy which was prevalent in the early 20^th century and in its place re-booting that of the British empiricism. Clarity of explanation and exposition was a priority, especially in the field of Ethics. Positively, he remarks that goodness, honesty and friendship are central. Negatively, that you cannot derive an ‘ought’ from an ‘is’, what’s ‘natural’ does not necessarily prescribe what is moral.

Life

• Entry on Moore in the Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy
• Moore's life and work

Writings

• A Defence of Common Sense
• Ethics
• Principia Ethica