R. M. Hare

Richard Mervyn Hare was a highly influential British moral philosopher. He spent much of his career at the University of Oxford. From 1966 until 1983, he held the prestigious post of White's Professor of Moral Philosophy. Later, he moved to the United States to teach at the University of Florida. Hare is most famous for developing the theory of universal prescriptivism. This theory uses logic to explain how moral language works. His work significantly impacted meta-ethics during the second half of the twentieth century.

Universal prescriptivism is a meta-ethical theory about moral discourse. Meta-ethics is the study of the nature and meaning of moral language. Hare argued that terms like "good," "right," and "ought" have two specific properties. The first property is universalisability. This means moral judgments must apply to any situation that fits a specific description. The second property is prescriptivity. This means that when a person makes a moral claim, they are prescribing an action. They are essentially saying they must perform that act if they are able.

Hare's theory creates a bridge to a specific type of consequentialism. Consequentialism is the idea that the rightness of an action depends on its results. Specifically, Hare advocated for preference utilitarianism. This approach suggests we should act to maximize the satisfaction of people's preferences. He believed that moral agents must consider all specific facts of a circumstance. This includes the probable consequences of their actions. For example, he argued we must consider the psychological states of those involved.

Hare's philosophical views were deeply shaped by his personal history. He was born in Backwell, Somerset, on 21 March 1919. During World War II, he served as an officer in the Royal Artillery. From 1942 until the end of the war, he was a prisoner of war held by the Japanese. He described this experience as being akin to slavery. These harsh conditions influenced his belief that philosophy must guide people through life's difficulties. He wanted his work to serve as a guide for living as moral beings.

Throughout his life, Hare held several important academic positions. He was a fellow and tutor at Balliol College from 1947 to 1966. He also served as the Wilde Lecturer in Natural Religion from 1963 to 1966. In 1972, he became the president of the Aristotelian Society. His academic influence extended to many famous students. These included philosophers like Bernard Williams and John Lucas. His son, John E. Hare, also became a philosopher. Even Peter Singer, a famous modern ethicist, studied Hare's work.

Hare contributed significantly to the field of applied ethics. Applied ethics involves using moral theories to solve real-world problems. He wrote extensively on complex topics like abortion and the morality of slavery. He also explored the Golden Rule and demi-vegetarianism. His major works in this area include "Essays on Political Morality" and "Essays on Bioethics." These volumes were published by Oxford University Press in 1989 and 1993. His work helped move moral philosophy into practical, social discussions.

Many different thinkers have engaged with Hare's complex ideas. Some scholars have compared his work to that of Immanuel Kant. They note his use of the concept of universalisability. However, others argue he is more of a utilitarian than a Kantian. He was also influenced by the emotivism of A. J. Ayer and Charles L. Stevenson. He drew ideas from the ordinary language philosophy of J. L. Austin. Even his views on religion were shaped by the writings of R. B. Braithwaite.

At his memorial service in May 2002, Peter Singer highlighted Hare's lasting achievements. Singer identified three major contributions made by Hare. First, he helped restore reason to moral argument. Second, he distinguished between intuitive and critical levels of moral thinking. Third, he pioneered the development of applied ethics. Hare died in Ewelme, Oxfordshire, on 29 January 2002, after suffering a series of strokes. His legacy remains a central part of modern moral philosophy.