Richard B. Brandt

Richard B. Brandt was an American philosopher known for his work in ethics. He proposed a form of naturalism, suggesting that moral terms refer to desires or preferences individuals would hold under idealized conditions. These conditions include being calm, reflective, possessing complete knowledge, and vividly appreciating the consequences of their actions. Brandt further specified that these idealized individuals would be motivated by "rational desires," achieved through cognitive psychotherapy, which helps in understanding and ridding oneself of unwanted desires.1

Brandt's theory posits that a moral judgment is true if it aligns with an ideal moral code that all rational individuals would support. However, critics questioned whether different individuals might desire different rules even under these idealized conditions, potentially making the standard subjective rather than objective.1