Väyrynen, P orcid.org/0000-0003-4066-8577 (2021) Normative Explanation and Justification. Noûs, 55 (1). pp. 3-22. ISSN 0029-4624
Abstract
Normative explanations of why things are wrong, good, or unfair are ubiquitous in ordinary practice and normative theory. This paper argues that normative explanation is subject to a justification condition: a correct complete explanation of why a normative fact holds must identify features that would go at least some way towards justifying certain actions or attitudes. I first explain and motivate the condition I propose. I then support it by arguing that it fits well with various theories of normative reasons, makes good sense of certain legitimate moves in ordinary normative explanatory discourse, and helps to make sense of our judgments about explanatory priority in certain cases of normative explanation. This last argument also helps to highlight respects in which normative explanation won't be worryingly discontinuous with explanations in other domains even though these other explanations aren't subject to the justification condition. Thus the paper aims not only to do some constructive theorizing about the relatively neglected topic of normative explanation but also to cast light on the broader question of how normative explanation may be similar to and different from explanations in other domains.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Väyrynen, P (2019) Normative Explanation and Justification. Noûs. ISSN 0029-4624, which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1111/nous.12283. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions. |
Keywords: | Fittingness; Normative explanation; Normative justifications; Reasons |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures (Leeds) > School of Philosophy, Religion and History of Science (Leeds) > School of Philosophy (Leeds) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 04 Mar 2019 09:49 |
Last Modified: | 11 Feb 2022 11:59 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Wiley |
Identification Number: | 10.1111/nous.12283 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:143163 |