Moral Reality and the Empirical Sciences

Nonfiction, Religion & Spirituality, Philosophy, Ethics & Moral Philosophy
Cover of the book Moral Reality and the Empirical Sciences by Thomas Pölzler, Taylor and Francis
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Thomas Pölzler ISBN: 9781351383332
Publisher: Taylor and Francis Publication: May 11, 2018
Imprint: Routledge Language: English
Author: Thomas Pölzler
ISBN: 9781351383332
Publisher: Taylor and Francis
Publication: May 11, 2018
Imprint: Routledge
Language: English

Are there objective moral truths (things that are morally right or wrong independently of what anybody thinks about them)? To answer this question more and more scholars have recently begun to appeal to evidence from scientific disciplines such as psychology, neuroscience, biology, and anthropology. This book investigates this novel scientific approach in a comprehensive, empirically focused, partly clarificatory, and partly metatheoretical way. It argues for two main theses. First, it is possible for the empirical sciences to contribute to the moral realism/anti-realism debate. And second, most appeals to science that have so far been proposed are insufficiently empirically substantiated.

The book’s main chapters address four prominent science-based arguments for or against the existence of objective moral truths: the presumptive argument, the argument from moral disagreement, the sentimentalist argument, and the evolutionary debunking argument. For each of these arguments Thomas Pölzler first identifies the sense in which its underlying empirical hypothesis would have to be true in order for the argument to work. Then he shows that the available scientific evidence fails to support this hypothesis. Finally, he also makes suggestions as to how to test the hypothesis more validly in future scientific research.

Moral Reality and the Empirical Sciences is an important contribution to the moral realism/anti-realism debate that will appeal both to philosophers and scientists interested in moral psychology and metaethics.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Are there objective moral truths (things that are morally right or wrong independently of what anybody thinks about them)? To answer this question more and more scholars have recently begun to appeal to evidence from scientific disciplines such as psychology, neuroscience, biology, and anthropology. This book investigates this novel scientific approach in a comprehensive, empirically focused, partly clarificatory, and partly metatheoretical way. It argues for two main theses. First, it is possible for the empirical sciences to contribute to the moral realism/anti-realism debate. And second, most appeals to science that have so far been proposed are insufficiently empirically substantiated.

The book’s main chapters address four prominent science-based arguments for or against the existence of objective moral truths: the presumptive argument, the argument from moral disagreement, the sentimentalist argument, and the evolutionary debunking argument. For each of these arguments Thomas Pölzler first identifies the sense in which its underlying empirical hypothesis would have to be true in order for the argument to work. Then he shows that the available scientific evidence fails to support this hypothesis. Finally, he also makes suggestions as to how to test the hypothesis more validly in future scientific research.

Moral Reality and the Empirical Sciences is an important contribution to the moral realism/anti-realism debate that will appeal both to philosophers and scientists interested in moral psychology and metaethics.

More books from Taylor and Francis

Cover of the book Home Studio Setup by Thomas Pölzler
Cover of the book Legal Perspectives in Bioethics by Thomas Pölzler
Cover of the book Legal Education and Public Policy by Thomas Pölzler
Cover of the book Creation and Evolution by Thomas Pölzler
Cover of the book The End of a Natural Monopoly by Thomas Pölzler
Cover of the book Fiascos in Public Policy and Foreign Policy by Thomas Pölzler
Cover of the book Disclosure Dilemmas by Thomas Pölzler
Cover of the book Sexuality in Greek and Roman Literature and Society by Thomas Pölzler
Cover of the book Competition Policy in Europe and North America by Thomas Pölzler
Cover of the book Leadership in the British Civil Service (Routledge Revivals) by Thomas Pölzler
Cover of the book Brief Therapy Approaches to Treating Anxiety and Depression by Thomas Pölzler
Cover of the book Xinjiang by Thomas Pölzler
Cover of the book Talleyrand by Thomas Pölzler
Cover of the book Doorway by Thomas Pölzler
Cover of the book Drama 7-11 by Thomas Pölzler
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy