Ability Quote by Nomy Arpaly
“The fact that only humans above a certain age can be morally virtuous, rather than babies or cats, means that that being moral requires some cognitive ability. If virtue is about desires, it is worth remembering that you can't desire some things without being able to conceive of them. Suppose a virtuous person will desire to make people happy and desire to tell the truth. You can't desire to make people happy without having the concept "happy" and you can't desire to be truthful if you don't have have the concept "lie", so a cat or a baby cannot desire these things.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Moral Psychology, Nomy Arpaly, 2006
Moral virtue depends on cognitive capacity to form concepts and desires; without such mental abilities, beings cannot be truly moral.
In simple terms: Morality needs thought and concepts.
Key Takeaway
Develop conceptual understanding to act morally.
Themes
morality
cognition
virtue
development
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
philosophical
ethical
When to use this quote
- education
- parenting
- animal welfare
- ethical training
Key Concepts
concept formation
desire theory
ethical capacity
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we assess moral capacity in non‑human beings?
- Can moral education compensate for limited cognition?
A Different Perspective
Moral judgments may be limited by cultural or emotional biases.
