--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Ethical metaphysics is fundamentally an…" description: "\"Ethical metaphysics is fundamentally an attempt, however disguised, to give legislative force to our own wishes.\" — Bertrand Russell" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/821/bertrand-russell-69_ethical_ethical-metaphysics-is-fundamentally-an_1762610.jpg" --- # Ethical metaphysics is fundamentally an attempt, however… ![“Ethical metaphysics is fundamentally an attempt, however disguised, to give legislative force to our own wishes.” quote by Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/821/bertrand-russell-69_ethical_ethical-metaphysics-is-fundamentally-an_1762610.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/821/bertrand-russell-69_ethical_ethical-metaphysics-is-fundamentally-an_1762610.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/821/bertrand-russell-69_ethical_ethical-metaphysics-is-fundamentally-an_1762610.jpg) > “Ethical metaphysics is fundamentally an attempt, however disguised, to give legislative force to our own wishes.” [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Ethical theories often mask personal desires as universal laws, turning subjective wishes into claimed moral authority. **In simple terms:** Ethics can hide personal bias. Key Takeaway Question underlying motives. Themes ethics politics bias Mood critical inquisitive Type philosophical analytical When to use this quote - lawmaking - public policy - personal decision making Key Concepts normative ethics legislative power subjectivity Questions to Reflect On - Whose interests are served by this ethical claim? - Can we separate personal desire from moral reasoning? A Different Perspective Even rigorous philosophy can serve personal agendas. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Metaphysics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/metaphysics/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Wish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wish/) ## Related quotes > [To create a healthy philosophy you should renounce metaphysics but be a good mathematician.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/to-create-a-healthy-philosophy-you-should-renounce-metaphysics-but-be/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [“In various ways, methods of approaching the mathematician's ideal were sought, and the resulting suggestions were the source of much that was mistaken in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/in-various-ways-methods-of-approaching-the-mathematician-s-ideal-were/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [Aristotle's metaphysics, roughly speaking, may be described as Plato diluted by common sense. He is difficult because Plato and common sense do not mix…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/aristotle-s-metaphysics-roughly-speaking-may-be-described-as-plato/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [“The accusation of metaphysics has become in philosophy something like the accusation of being a security risk in the public service. I do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/the-accusation-of-metaphysics-has-become-in-philosophy-something-like/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [Deterrence is still fundamentally about influencing an actor's decisions. It is about a solid policy foundation. It is about credible capabilities. It is about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-robert-kehler/deterrence-is-still-fundamentally-about-influencing-an-actor-s/) C. Robert Kehler > [I think the Hispanic community, the values that resonate in our community, are fundamentally conservative. They are faith, family, patriotism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/i-think-the-hispanic-community-the-values-that-resonate-in-our/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [You would not enjoy Nietzsche, sir. He is fundamentally unsound.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-would-not-enjoy-nietzsche-sir-he-is-fundamentally-unsound/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When you're at a certain point in your time - age, that is, when you're older - you start to realize that, actually, what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ridley-scott/when-you-re-at-a-certain-point-in-your-time-age-that-is-when-you-re/) [Ridley Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ridley-scott/) > [After spending 460 days as a hostage, I did emerge a fundamentally changed person. 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Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien-2/) > [Fundamentally, I like to accomplish things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-spacey/fundamentally-i-like-to-accomplish-things/) [Kevin Spacey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-spacey/) > [Life is fundamentally up for grabs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-lethem/life-is-fundamentally-up-for-grabs/) [Jonathan Lethem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-lethem/) > [The role of the church and the government are fundamentally different. The church must always show compassion - always.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/the-role-of-the-church-and-the-government-are-fundamentally-different/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [Don't underestimate the power of your vision to change the world. Whether that world is your office, your community, an industry or a global…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-hood/don-t-underestimate-the-power-of-your-vision-to-change-the-world/) [Leroy Hood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-hood/) ## More by Bertrand Russell > [ If the State does not acquire supremacy over \[vast private\] enterprises, it becomes their puppet, and they become the real State. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/if-the-state-does-not-acquire-supremacy-over-vast-private-enterprises/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [That the world is in a bad shape is undeniable, but there is not the faintest reason in history to suppose that Christianity offers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/that-the-world-is-in-a-bad-shape-is-undeniable-but-there-is-not-the/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [All movements go too far.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/all-movements-go-too-far/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [Those who advocate common usage in philosophy sometimes speak in a manner that suggests the mystique of the 'common man.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/those-who-advocate-common-usage-in-philosophy-sometimes-speak-in-a/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [“Such, in outline, but even more purposeless, more void of meaning, is the world which Science presents for our belief. Amid such a world,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/such-in-outline-but-even-more-purposeless-more-void-of-meaning-is-the/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [Dr. Arnold . . . the admired reformer of public schools, came across some cranks who thought it a mistake to flog boys. 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This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/many-orthodox-people-speak-as-though-it-were-the-business-of-sceptics/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [There is no greater reason for children to honour parents than for parents to honour children except, that while the children are young, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/there-is-no-greater-reason-for-children-to-honour-parents-than-for/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) [Explore all 1,620 Bertrand Russell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) ## More Ethical quotes > [The concept of humanity is an especially useful ideological instrument of imperialist expansion, and in its ethical-humanitarian form it is a specific vehicle of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-schmitt/the-concept-of-humanity-is-an-especially-useful-ideological/) [Carl Schmitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-schmitt/) > [My hope is that if people have the knowledge, and if they actually see where their food comes from and have access to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pollan/my-hope-is-that-if-people-have-the-knowledge-and-if-they-actually-see/) [Michael Pollan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pollan/) > [Design certainly has a cosmetic, aesthetic aim. It always aims at making things beautiful. But relevance is just as important. I often say, 'If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yves-behar/design-certainly-has-a-cosmetic-aesthetic-aim-it-always-aims-at/) [Yves Behar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yves-behar/) > [What our species needs, above all else, is a generally accepted ethical system that is compatible with the scientific knowledge we now possess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-our-species-needs-above-all-else-is-a-generally-accepted-ethical/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Daily contact with some teachers is itself all-sided ethical education for the child without a spoken precept. Here, too, the real advantage of male…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-stanley-hall/daily-contact-with-some-teachers-is-itself-all-sided-ethical/) [G. Stanley Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-stanley-hall/) > [It is possible to believe in progress as a fact without believing in progress as an ethical principle; but in the catechism of many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norbert-wiener/it-is-possible-to-believe-in-progress-as-a-fact-without-believing-in/) [Norbert Wiener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norbert-wiener/) > [Virtue is as little to be acquired by learning as genius; nay, the idea is barren, and is only to be employed as an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/virtue-is-as-little-to-be-acquired-by-learning-as-genius-nay-the-idea/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) > [I'm a fan of Hugh Kenner, Richard Ellman, Lionel Trilling and Frank Kermode. All these people have taught me how to read - but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-kitcher/i-m-a-fan-of-hugh-kenner-richard-ellman-lionel-trilling-and-frank/) [Philip Kitcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-kitcher/) > [Of course, corporations and governments have a right to something for their money. They pay the wages. But they don't have the ethical right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ralston-saul/of-course-corporations-and-governments-have-a-right-to-something-for/) [John Ralston Saul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ralston-saul/) > [It's silly to have as one's sole object in life just making money, accumulating wealth. I work because I enjoy what I'm doing, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-carson/it-s-silly-to-have-as-one-s-sole-object-in-life-just-making-money/) [Johnny Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-carson/) > [Everyone seems to assume that the unscrupulous parts of journalism will be the frivolous or jocular parts. 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Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) > [“Where are the ethical concerns, that so many people called animal lovers invoke, when you steal the children of wild dog mothers and other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-nther-bloch/where-are-the-ethical-concerns-that-so-many-people-called-animal/) Günther Bloch > [In the light of absolute values (religious or ethical) man himself is judged to be limited or imperfect, while he can occasionally accomplish acts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-e-hulme/in-the-light-of-absolute-values-religious-or-ethical-man-himself-is/) [T. E. Hulme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-e-hulme/) Browse all 1,110 Ethical quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Ethical metaphysics is fundamentally an attempt, however disguised, to give legislative force to our own wishes.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Bertrand Russell" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/ethical-metaphysics-is-fundamentally-an-attempt-however-disguised-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ethical" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/ethical-metaphysics-is-fundamentally-an-attempt-however-disguised-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/821/bertrand-russell-69_ethical_ethical-metaphysics-is-fundamentally-an_1762610.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/821/bertrand-russell-69_ethical_ethical-metaphysics-is-fundamentally-an_1762610.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/821/bertrand-russell-69_ethical_ethical-metaphysics-is-fundamentally-an_1762610.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Ethical metaphysics is fundamentally an attempt, however disguised, to give legislative force to our own…” — Bertrand Russell", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Bertrand Russell", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Ethical metaphysics is fundamentally an attempt,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/ethical-metaphysics-is-fundamentally-an-attempt-however-disguised-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/ethical-metaphysics-is-fundamentally-an-attempt-however-disguised-to/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```