As we continue our discussion of the way in which metaphysical questions apply to everyday problems, we turn to the complicated relationship between causation and value. Most individuals don’t give much thought to what value is, or what makes certain things valuable but not other things. Subjectivism and objectivism are two metaethical views that offer [...]
Entries Tagged as 'Moral Theory'
Why Metaphysics Matters: Causation and Value
December 17th, 2008 · No Comments
Tags: Metaphysics · Moral Theory
Ethics vs. Morals: Not As Easy As It Seems
November 15th, 2008 · 1 Comment
It’s always fun to go back and read your own work. I often look back at articles that I have written and wonder “why did I say that?” or “that doesn’t even make sense.” Occasionally, I impress myself, which is fun. And sometimes, I am forced to admit a deficiency in my own writing, [...]
Tags: Moral Theory · Philosophy of Ethics
You, Me, Us: Individuals, Communities, and Ethics
November 5th, 2008 · No Comments
Morality seems like the sort of thing that involves individual action. We ask questions about what individuals ought to do, or how persons ought to be treated. However, the role of communities in ethical deliberations should not be understated, and our own ethical decision-making can be enhanced by thinking about the ways that communities might [...]
Tags: Moral Theory · Social Ethics
Can We Learn to Be Moral?
September 13th, 2008 · No Comments
A currently popular trend in moral psychology is the attempt to incorporate empirical findings about moral decision making with our efforts to construct solid moral theory. This makes some sense. If we are going to try and give people a theoretical basis for making moral decisions, we should probably know something about how [...]
Tags: Moral Theory
What is Morality For?
July 30th, 2008 · No Comments
Morality is a diverse and challenging subject, and it is ripe with interesting philosophical questions. We can question what sorts of moral principles we ought to adopt, or examine the challenges associated with particular moral questions. But one question that we don’t often ask, is what purpose morality fulfills. In other words, what is morality [...]
Tags: Moral Theory