Lenman, J.W. (2013) Science, Ethics and Observation. Royal Institute of Philosophy Supplement, 72. 261 - 274 . ISSN 1358-2461
Abstract
This paper examines the idea that ethics might be understood as a domain of straightforwardly empirical inquiry with reference to two of its defenders. Sam Harris has recently urged that ethics is simply the scientific study of welfare and how best to maximize it. That is of course to presuppose the truth of utilitarianism, something Harris considers too obvious to be sensibly contested. Richard Boyd's more nuanced and thoughtful position takes the truth of the ethical theory – homeostatic consequentialism – he favours to be determined by what best explains the success of moral practice over its history. But what is to count here as success is too theory dependent for this to be helpful. From consideration of both Harris and Boyd, the conclusion emerges that once we have satisfied ourselves by ethical reflection about what we ought to do, it may then be a straightforwardly empirical question how to do it, but that arriving at that point, the core concern of the moral philosopher, is far less clearly a straightforwardly empirical affair.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © The Royal Institute of Philosophy and the contributors 2013. This is an author produced version of a paper subsequently published in Royal Institute of Philosophy Supplement. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Sheffield |
Academic Units: | The University of Sheffield > Faculty of Arts and Humanities (Sheffield) > Department of Philosophy (Sheffield) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Sheffield |
Date Deposited: | 22 Jan 2016 15:39 |
Last Modified: | 13 Mar 2016 14:13 |
Published Version: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S1358246113000143 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Cambridge University Press |
Refereed: | Yes |
Identification Number: | 10.1017/S1358246113000143 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:93170 |