Intuitions and Intuition Pumps in Moral and Political Theory

Abstract

What are moral intuitions and what role do they play in moral theory? Rawls’s reflective equilibrium suggests that we test moral theories using our intuitions and then bring each into line to reach some equilibrium. Intuition pumps work by asking what are our immediate apprehensions about some story; they are then used to critique theories or principles. We can contrast them with thought experiments in science, which are often used to show our intuitions must be wrong. I critically examine the role that intuitions play in moral and political theory and suggest some principles for their systematic application.