Moral Certainty and the Foundations of Morality

Moral Certainty and the Foundations of Morality
Author: Neil O'Hara
Publisher:
Total Pages: 203
Release: 2018
Genre: Ethics
ISBN: 9783319754451

What lies at the foundation of our moral beliefs? If we dig down far enough do we find that our moral values have no ground at all to stand on, and so are apt to collapse upon serious philosophical investigation? This book seeks to answer these and related questions by positing an indubitable foundation for our moral beliefs - they arise from the phenomenon of 'primary recognition', and are fundamentally shaped by 'basic moral certainties'. Drawing on philosophers such as Ludwig Wittgenstein and Knud Ejler Løgstrup, this book draws together insights from both Analytic and Continental philosophy to provide a convincing new picture of our moral foundations. And it does so in a way that eschews moral conservativism and opens the way for a rich understanding of the variety and particularity of our human moral systems, while also keeping a significant place for those moral beliefs that occur universally, across cultures.

Moral Certainty and the Foundations of Morality

Moral Certainty and the Foundations of Morality
Author: Neil O'Hara
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 211
Release: 2018-03-15
Genre: Philosophy
ISBN: 3319754440

What lies at the foundation of our moral beliefs? If we dig down far enough do we find that our moral values have no ground at all to stand on, and so are apt to collapse upon serious philosophical investigation? This book seeks to answer these and related questions by positing an indubitable foundation for our moral beliefs – they arise from the phenomenon of ‘primary recognition’, and are fundamentally shaped by ‘basic moral certainties’. Drawing on philosophers such as Ludwig Wittgenstein and Knud Ejler Løgstrup, this book draws together insights from both Analytic and Continental philosophy to provide a convincing new picture of our moral foundations. And it does so in a way that eschews moral conservativism and opens the way for a rich understanding of the variety and particularity of our human moral systems, while also keeping a significant place for those moral beliefs that occur universally, across cultures.

The Basis of Morality

The Basis of Morality
Author: Arthur Schopenhauer
Publisher: London : S. Sonnenschein
Total Pages: 318
Release: 1903
Genre: Conduct of life
ISBN:

The Principles of Morals and Legislation

The Principles of Morals and Legislation
Author: Jeremy Bentham
Publisher:
Total Pages: 378
Release: 1879
Genre: Civil law
ISBN:

Discusses morals' functions and natures that affect the legislation in general. Bases the discussions on pain and pleasure as basic principle of law embodiment. Mentions of the circumstance influencing sensibility, general human actions, intentionality, conciousness, motives, human dispositions, consequencess of mischievous act, case of punishment, and offences' division.

Moral Uncertainty

Moral Uncertainty
Author: William MacAskill
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Total Pages: 237
Release: 2020
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 0198722273

About the bookToby Ord try to fill this gap. They argue that there are distinctive norms that govern how one ought to make decisions and defend an information-sensitive account of how to make such decisions. They do so by developing an analogy between moral uncertainty and social choice, noting that different moral views provide different amounts of information regarding our reasons for action, and arguing that the correct account of decision-making under moral uncertainty must be sensitive to that. Moral Uncertainty also tackles the problem of how to make intertheoretic comparisons, and addresses the implications of their view for metaethics and practical ethics. Very often we are uncertain about what we ought, morally, to do. We do not know how to weigh the interests of animals against humans, how strong our duties are to improve the lives of distant strangers, or how to think about the ethics of bringing new people into existence. But we still need to act. So how should we make decisions in the face of such uncertainty? Though economists and philosophers have extensively studied the issue of decision-making in the face of uncertainty about matters of fact, the question of decision-making given fundamental moral uncertainty has been neglected. In Moral Uncertainty, philosophers William MacAskill, Krister Bykvist, and Toby Ord try to fill this gap. They argue that there are distinctive norms that govern how one ought to make decisions and defend an information-sensitive account of how to make such decisions. They do so by developing an analogy between moral uncertainty and social choice, noting that different moral views provide different amounts of information regarding our reasons for action, and arguing that the correct account of decision-making under moral uncertainty must be sensitive to that. Moral Uncertainty also tackles the problem of how to make intertheoretic comparisons, and addresses the implications of their view for metaethics and practical ethics.

Philosophical Perspectives on Moral Certainty

Philosophical Perspectives on Moral Certainty
Author: Cecilie Eriksen
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
Total Pages: 222
Release: 2022-12-30
Genre: Philosophy
ISBN: 1000825477

Moral certainty refers to those aspects of morality – moral acting, feeling, and thinking – that are beyond doubt, explanation, and justification. The essays in this book explore the concept of moral certainty and its application and usefulness in contemporary moral debates. The notion of moral certainty, which is inspired by the philosophy of Ludwig Wittgenstein, is emerging as a key reference point in contemporary moral philosophy. An investigation into the implications of moral certainty is called for, given that so many discussions in moral philosophy concern the possibility of justifying our moral beliefs. The concept of moral certainty also feeds directly into the emerging field of hinge epistemology. The chapters in this volume tackle the following issues: meta-questions around whether and how we can make sense of the concept of moral certainty; the role of moral certainty in contemporary debates on gender, racism, bias, and historically unjust practices; ways in which radical change in society engendered by new technologies might affect moral certainties; and the role of the notion of moral certainty in the debates on free will and moral responsibility. Philosophical Perspectives on Moral Certainty will appeal to researchers and advanced students working on ethics and moral philosophy, epistemology, philosophy of technology, and Wittgenstein.

Kant's 'Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals'

Kant's 'Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals'
Author: Jens Timmermann
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages: 245
Release: 2009-12-24
Genre: Philosophy
ISBN: 0521878012

This volume discusses Kant's philosophical development in the Groundwork and his attempt to justify the categorical imperative as a principle of freedom.

The Principles of Moral and Christian Philosophy

The Principles of Moral and Christian Philosophy
Author: George Turnbull
Publisher: Natural Law and Enlightenment
Total Pages: 498
Release: 2005
Genre: Law
ISBN:

The Principles of Moral and Christian Philosophy presents the first masterpiece of Scottish Common Sense philosophy. This two-volume treatise is important for its wide range of insights about the nature of the human mind, the foundations of morals, and the relationship between morality and religion. The first volume presents a detailed study of the faculties of the human mind and their interrelations. The second volume presents arguments for the existence of God and for God's infinite perfection. The underlying notion is God's moral government of the world, in which there is recompense for good and evil deeds. George Turnbull (1698-1748) taught at Marischal College, Aberdeen. Alexander Broadie is Professor of Logic and Rhetoric at the University of Glasgow. Please note: This title is available as an ebook for purchase on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and iTunes.

On Moral Certainty, Justification and Practice

On Moral Certainty, Justification and Practice
Author: J. Hermann
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 366
Release: 2015-06-23
Genre: Philosophy
ISBN: 1137447184

Taking inspiration from the later Wittgenstein, On Moral Certainty, Justification and Practice explores the practical basis of human morality. It offers an account of moral certainty, which it links with a view of moral competence. Drawing on everyday examples, it is shown how morality is grounded in action, not in reasoning.