Q0525
“The concepts of obligation, and duty—moral obligation and moral duty, that is…” — Elizabeth Anscombe (Modern Moral Philosophy (1958))
Verified English quotation. Primary source: Modern Moral Philosophy (1958). Theme: morality.
English
The concepts of obligation, and duty—moral obligation and moral duty, that is to say—and of what is morally right and wrong, and of the moral sense of "ought," ought to be jettisoned if this is psychologically possible.
Source and attribution
The archive attributes this English wording to Modern Moral Philosophy (1958) and files it under Analytic Philosophy. That locator distinguishes the passage from loose internet attributions: readers can return to the named work or section to check translation, surrounding argument, and edition-specific wording.
About Elizabeth Anscombe
G. E.
How to read this passage
Moral philosophy asks whether morality is objective, how reasons bind us, and how character, rules, and consequences relate. Traditions differ on whether duty, virtue, or outcomes come first. This passage enters that discussion through morality, responsibility, virtue.
Concepts in this quote
- Morality
- Morality in philosophy concerns right and wrong, obligation, and the standards by which we judge persons and acts.
- Responsibility
- Responsibility asks what we answer for—our choices, omissions, institutions, and the futures we help create.
- Virtue
- Virtue names excellences of character—habits of perception and action oriented toward the good.
How to cite this quotation
APA: Elizabeth Anscombe. (n.d.). The concepts of obligation, and duty—moral obligation and moral duty, that is to say—and of what is morally right and wrong, and of the moral sense of "ought," ought to be jettisoned if this is psychologically possible. In Philosophy Blind Box. https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0525
MLA: Elizabeth Anscombe. “The concepts of obligation, and duty—moral obligation and….” Philosophy Blind Box, https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0525.
Chicago: Elizabeth Anscombe. “The concepts of obligation, and duty—moral obligation and….” Philosophy Blind Box. Accessed 2026. https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0525.
Frequently asked questions
What is the source of the quotation “The concepts of obligation, and duty—moral obligation and…”?
The passage is attributed to Elizabeth Anscombe, Modern Moral Philosophy (1958). The archive attributes this English wording to Modern Moral Philosophy (1958) and files it under Analytic Philosophy. That locator distinguishes the passage from loose internet attributions: readers can return to the named work or section to check translation, surrounding argument, and edition-specific wording.
What does Elizabeth Anscombe mean by morality?
Moral philosophy asks whether morality is objective, how reasons bind us, and how character, rules, and consequences relate. Traditions differ on whether duty, virtue, or outcomes come first. This passage enters that discussion through morality, responsibility, virtue.