Definition

1. Proper noun:
   • English philosopher (1873-1958): G. E. Moore was a prominent British philosopher, a central figure in the development of analytic philosophy in the early 20th century. He is best known for his work in ethics, epistemology, and his common-sense approach to philosophical problems.

Usage Examples

• Proper noun:
  • G. E. Moore famously defended common sense against philosophical skepticism.
  • The ethical theories of G. E. Moore are discussed in many introductory philosophy courses.
  • In his essay "Proof of an External World," G. E. Moore argued by holding up his hands.

Advanced Usage

• "Moore's paradox": A philosophical puzzle concerning assertion and belief, typically expressed in statements like "It is raining, but I don't believe it is raining."

  • The seminar focused on analyzing the implications of Moore's paradox for theories of belief.

• "Moorean fact" / "Moorean common sense": Refers to propositions so obviously true that they form a foundation for reasoning, as defended by G. E. Moore.

  • The philosopher invoked a Moorean fact to challenge the skeptic's premise.

Variants and Related Words

• Moorean (adj): Pertaining to the philosophy or ideas of G. E. Moore.
  • Her argument had a distinctly Moorean flavor, appealing to the self-evidence of common sense.

Synonyms

• George Edward Moore: The full name of the philosopher.
• Moore: A common abbreviated reference in philosophical discourse.

Related Phrases

• The Naturalistic Fallacy: A concept central to Moore's moral philosophy, introduced in his work Principia Ethica, which argues that goodness is a simple, indefinable, non-natural property.

  • Moore accused many ethical systems of committing the naturalistic fallacy.

• Open-question argument: Moore's argument used to support the idea that 'good' is indefinable.

  • She used a version of the open-question argument to challenge the proposed definition of 'value'.

Noun

1. English philosopher (1873-1958)