R.M. Hare - Icon Profile | Alexandria
R.M. Hare (1919-2002), born Richard Mervyn Hare, was one of the most influential moral philosophers of the 20th century, whose work fundamentally reshaped modern ethical theory through his development of universal prescriptivism and his sophisticated defense of utilitarianism. As the White's Professor of Moral Philosophy at Oxford University from 1966 to 1983, Hare crafted a unique philosophical framework that sought to bridge the seemingly insurmountable gap between moral relativism and absolute ethical principles.
Hare's intellectual journey was profoundly shaped by his experiences as a prisoner of war in Singapore during World War II, where he first began contemplating the nature of moral reasoning while in Japanese captivity. These circumstances led him to question how universal moral principles could be established in a world of diverse cultural values and beliefs, a question that would define his academic career.
His groundbreaking works, particularly "The Language of Morals" (1952) and "Freedom and Reason" (1963), introduced the concept of prescriptivism, arguing that moral judgments are fundamentally prescriptive rather than descriptive, commanding actions rather than merely describing them. This innovative approach combined elements of both Kantian universalizability and utilitarian consequentialism, suggesting that moral judgments must be universalizable while simultaneously considering their practical implications.
Hare's legacy continues to influence contemporary ethical debates, particularly in areas of applied ethics and meta-ethics. His two-level utilitarianism, detailed in "Moral Thinking: Its Levels, Method and Point" (1981), provides a sophisticated framework for resolving moral dilemmas by distinguishing between intuitive and critical levels of moral thinking. The enduring relevance of his work is evident in ongoing discussions about artificial intelligence ethics, where his ideas about universal prescriptivism offer valuable insights into programming ethical decision-making systems.
In a world increasingly grappling with moral relativism and the search for universal ethical principles, Hare's philosophical contributions remain remarkably pertinent, challenging us to consider how rational moral thinking can guide human behavior across cultural and temporal boundaries. His intellectual legacy reminds us that the pursuit of ethical truth, while complex, is not futile but rather essential to human progress and understanding.