Subjective versus Objective Moral Wrongness

Subjective versus Objective Moral Wrongness
Author: Peter A. Graham
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages: 118
Release: 2021-04-15
Genre: Philosophy
ISBN: 1108604315

There is presently a debate between Subjectivists and Objectivists about moral wrongness. Subjectivism is the view that the moral status of our actions, whether they are morally wrong or not, is grounded in our subjective circumstances – either our beliefs about, or our evidence concerning, the world around us. Objectivism, on the other hand, is the view that the moral status of our actions is grounded in our objective circumstances – all those facts other than those which comprise our subjective circumstances. A third view, Ecumenism, has it that the moral status of our actions is grounded both in our subjective and our objective circumstances. After outlining and evaluating the various arguments both against Subjectivism and against Objectivism, this Element offers a tentative defense of Objectivism about moral wrongness.

Morality

Morality
Author: Bernard Gert
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
Total Pages: 426
Release: 1998
Genre: Ethics
ISBN: 0195122569

In this final revision of the classic work, the author has produced the fullest and most sophisticated account of this influential theoretical model. Here, he makes clear that morality is an informal system that does not provide unique answers to every moral question but does always limit the range of morally acceptable options, and so explains why some moral disagreements cannot be resolved. The importance placed on the moral ideals also makes clear that the moral rules are only one part of the moral system. A chapter that is devoted to justifying violations of the rules illustrates how the moral rules are embedded in the system and cannot be adequately understood independently of it. The chapter on reasons includes a new account of what makes one reason better than another and elucidates the complex hybrid nature of rationality.

Ethics

Ethics
Author: J.L. Mackie
Publisher: Penguin UK
Total Pages: 272
Release: 1990-08-30
Genre: Philosophy
ISBN: 0141960094

An insight into moral skepticism of the 20th century. The author argues that our every-day moral codes are an 'error theory' based on the presumption of moral facts which, he persuasively argues, don't exist. His refutation of such facts is based on their metaphysical 'queerness' and the observation of cultural relativity.

The Catholic Thing

The Catholic Thing
Author: Robert Royal
Publisher:
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2013
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 9781587311055

The Catholic "thing" - the concrete historical reality of Catholicism as a presence in human history - is the richest cultural tradition in the world. It values both faith and reason, and therefore has a great deal to say about politics and economics, war and peace, manners and morals, children and families, careers and vocations, and many other perennial and contemporary questions. In addition, it has inspired some of the greatest art, music, and architecture, while offering unparalleled human solidarity to tens of millions through hospitals, soup kitchens, schools, universities, and relief services. This volume brings together some of the very best commentary on a wide range of recent events and controversies by some of the very best Catholic writers in the English language: Ralph McInerny, Michael Novak, Fr. James V. Schall, Hadley Arkes, Robert Royal, Anthony Esolen, Brad Miner, George Marlin, David Warren, Austin Ruse, Francis Beckwith, and many others. Their contributions cover large Catholic subjects such as philosophy and theology, liturgy and Church dogma, postmodern culture, the Church and modern politics, literature, and music. But they also look into specific contemporary problems such as religious liberty, the role of Catholic officials in public life, growing moral hazards in bio-medical advances, and such like. The Catholic Thing is a virtual encyclopedia of Catholic thought about modern life.

Ways to be Blameworthy

Ways to be Blameworthy
Author: Elinor Mason
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Total Pages: 192
Release: 2019-02-21
Genre: Philosophy
ISBN: 0192570218

There must be some connection between our deontic notions, rightness and wrongness, and our responsibility notions, praise- and blameworthiness. Yet traditional approaches to each set of concepts tend to take the other set for granted. This book takes an integrated approach to these questions, drawing on both ethics and responsibility theory, and thereby illuminating both sets of concepts. Elinor Mason describes this as 'normative responsibility theory': the primary aim is not to give an account of the conditions of agency, but to give an account of what sort of wrong action makes blame fitting. She presents a pluralistic view of both obligation and blameworthiness, identifying three different ways to be blameworthy, corresponding to different ways of acting wrongly. First, ordinary blameworthiness is essentially connected to subjective wrongness, to acting wrongly by one's own lights. Subjective obligation, and ordinary blame, apply only to those who are within our moral community, who understand and share our value system. By contrast, detached blame can apply even when the agent is outside our moral community, and has no sense that her act is morally wrong. In detached blame, the blame rather than the blameworthiness is fundamental. Finally, agents can take responsibility for some inadvertent wrongs, and thus become responsible. This third sort of blameworthiness, 'extended blameworthiness', applies when the agent understands the objective wrongness of her act, but has no bad will. In such cases, the social context may be such that the agent should take responsibility, and accept ordinary blame from the wronged party.

The Moral Landscape

The Moral Landscape
Author: Sam Harris
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Total Pages: 322
Release: 2011-09-13
Genre: Philosophy
ISBN: 143917122X

Sam Harris dismantles the most common justification for religious faith--that a moral system cannot be based on science.

Ethical Subjectivism and Expressivism

Ethical Subjectivism and Expressivism
Author: Neil Sinclair
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages: 133
Release: 2020-09-10
Genre: Philosophy
ISBN: 1108586651

Ethical subjectivists hold that moral judgements are descriptions of our attitudes. Expressivists hold that they are expressions of our attitudes. These views cook with the same ingredients – the natural world, and our reactions to it – and have similar attractions. This Element assesses each of them by considering whether they can accommodate three central features of moral practice: the practicality of moral judgements, the phenomenon of moral disagreement, and the mind-independence of some moral truths. In the process, several different versions of subjectivism are distinguished (simple, communal, idealising, and normative) and key expressivist notions such as 'moral attitudes' and 'expression' are examined. Different meanings of 'subjective' and 'relative' are examined and it is considered whether subjectivism and expressivism make ethics 'subjective' or 'relative' in each of these senses.

Ignorance and Moral Obligation

Ignorance and Moral Obligation
Author: Michael J. Zimmerman
Publisher:
Total Pages: 160
Release: 2014-03
Genre: Philosophy
ISBN: 0199688850

Michael J. Zimmerman explores whether and how our ignorance about ourselves and our circumstances affects what our moral obligations and moral rights are. He rejects objective and subjective views of the nature of moral obligation, and presents a new case for a 'prospective' view.

Evidence of Falsehood

Evidence of Falsehood
Author: Timothy R. O'Donnell
Publisher:
Total Pages: 180
Release: 2018-08-03
Genre: Philosophy
ISBN: 9781718037236

This is a book of philosophy and for that, I apologize. Philosophy used to try and explain the world around us and our experiences, to answer the life's big questions, and to help us make sense of it all. If it still did that, it would truly be a great thing! More often of late, to anyone with a shred of common sense, philosophers seem to have lost their marbles. The answers we get to life's questions are more confusing than ever, and the arguments become inane to the point that a common man would regret asking the big questions. There are good reasons for the overall failure of modern philosophy to answer life's big questions. Some of the mistakes were made over 2400 years ago by early western philosophers. When your foundation is built on sand, is there any mystery why the edifice eventually crumbles? Furthermore, modern philosophers have in some cases assumed their own hypothesis from the start, ignoring the evidence of falsehood. And so, again I apologize, for the topics of philosophical discussion can be difficult to swallow and digest. I empathize with you, and so, I will try to make my evaluation of these questions as palatable as possible. More importantly, this is a book of answers and that is truly a great thing! Once you have the answers to the big questions, the little ones will all fall into place. Together we are going to examine these age-old questions and come up with some real answers - ones that will help explain the world around us and our experience of it. Some of the answers will undoubtedly astound you, because truth is astounding. And, of course, there will be those who simply can't handle the truth. In the end, they will be truly ashamed of themselves. They will let this opportunity slip through their fingers and continue to muddle through life without direction. Do you expect the right answers to confirm the floundering life you are leading? Are you unwilling to change your life for the better? Then you must expect and prepare for hard work ahead of you. If you are among those few who already know the answers to life's questions, then you know your life's purpose, and are not floundering, but driven toward this goal. What is more, you are certain that it is the right goal and you are not headed in the wrong direction. You are indeed wise beyond your years. But, please, read on. You may find confirmation in your understanding, you may come across something unexpected, or you may discover you don't know everything you thought you did. For the rest of us, still searching for answers, let's get started.