G. E. Moore
Biography
George Edward Moore (1873–1958) was an English philosopher who was one of the founders of the analytic philosophy tradition and a major figure in the Cambridge philosophical scene alongside Bertrand Russell and Ludwig Wittgenstein. His Principia Ethica (1903) was enormously influential, arguing that "good" is a simple, indefinable quality that cannot be reduced to natural properties—a position known as the open question argument. The book profoundly influenced not only philosophy but also the Bloomsbury Group, whose members adopted Moore's emphasis on personal relationships and aesthetic experience as the highest goods.
Common themes in G. E. Moore's work
Analytic Philosophy
A recurring theme throughout G. E. Moore's writing.
Ethics
A recurring theme throughout G. E. Moore's writing.
Cambridge Philosophy
A recurring theme throughout G. E. Moore's writing.
Bloomsbury Group
A recurring theme throughout G. E. Moore's writing.
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Why G. E. Moore is still read today
Moore was a foundational figure of analytic philosophy. Principia Ethica shaped both academic ethics and the cultural values of the Bloomsbury Group.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was G. E. Moore?
Moore was an English philosopher who helped found analytic philosophy and whose Principia Ethica influenced both philosophy and the Bloomsbury Group.
What is Principia Ethica about?
It argues that goodness is a simple, indefinable quality, and that the highest goods are personal relationships and aesthetic experience. Read it free on TextStack.
How did Moore influence the Bloomsbury Group?
Members like Virginia Woolf and E.M. Forster adopted his emphasis on personal relationships and beauty as life's highest values.
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