Knowing Moral Truth

A Theory of Metaethics and Moral Knowledge

Nonfiction, Religion & Spirituality, Philosophy, Epistemology, Ethics & Moral Philosophy
Cover of the book Knowing Moral Truth by Christopher B. Kulp, Lexington Books
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Christopher B. Kulp ISBN: 9781498547031
Publisher: Lexington Books Publication: May 9, 2017
Imprint: Lexington Books Language: English
Author: Christopher B. Kulp
ISBN: 9781498547031
Publisher: Lexington Books
Publication: May 9, 2017
Imprint: Lexington Books
Language: English

This is a book on metaethics and moral epistemology. It asks two fundamental questions: (i) Is there any such thing as (non-relative) moral truth?; and (ii) If there is such truth, how do we come into epistemic contact with it? Roughly the first half of the book is aimed at answering the first question. Its animating idea is that we should take our ordinary, tutored moral judgments seriously—judgments typified by our conviction that it is clearly true that some acts, policies, social norms et al. are morally right or wrong, permissible or impermissible, praiseworthy or condemnable, etc., no matter when, where, or by whom they are performed. In order to provide a firm conceptual basis for such judgments, the book develops a theory of moral truth, based on a theory of moral facts. The account of moral truth and moral facts is further grounded on a theory of moral properties. In short, the book develops a theory of moral realism, roughly, the view that there are indeed non-relative, first-order moral truths. The second half of the book is aimed at answering the second question above. Building squarely on the metaethical theories developed earlier, the book argues for a non-empiricist theory of justified moral belief and knowledge. Pivotal to this project is a careful analysis of various forms of moral skepticism, by which I mean any conception of morality substantially at odds with the general contours of our ordinary moral thinking. All such skepticisms are rejected, and in their place a broadly intuitionist, epistemically fallibilist theory of moral knowledge is advanced. The conclusion reached is that we have very strong reason to believe that our ordinary moral thinking, although certainly liable to error, is fundamentally sound. Moral knowledge is ubiquitous.

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

This is a book on metaethics and moral epistemology. It asks two fundamental questions: (i) Is there any such thing as (non-relative) moral truth?; and (ii) If there is such truth, how do we come into epistemic contact with it? Roughly the first half of the book is aimed at answering the first question. Its animating idea is that we should take our ordinary, tutored moral judgments seriously—judgments typified by our conviction that it is clearly true that some acts, policies, social norms et al. are morally right or wrong, permissible or impermissible, praiseworthy or condemnable, etc., no matter when, where, or by whom they are performed. In order to provide a firm conceptual basis for such judgments, the book develops a theory of moral truth, based on a theory of moral facts. The account of moral truth and moral facts is further grounded on a theory of moral properties. In short, the book develops a theory of moral realism, roughly, the view that there are indeed non-relative, first-order moral truths. The second half of the book is aimed at answering the second question above. Building squarely on the metaethical theories developed earlier, the book argues for a non-empiricist theory of justified moral belief and knowledge. Pivotal to this project is a careful analysis of various forms of moral skepticism, by which I mean any conception of morality substantially at odds with the general contours of our ordinary moral thinking. All such skepticisms are rejected, and in their place a broadly intuitionist, epistemically fallibilist theory of moral knowledge is advanced. The conclusion reached is that we have very strong reason to believe that our ordinary moral thinking, although certainly liable to error, is fundamentally sound. Moral knowledge is ubiquitous.

More books from Lexington Books

Cover of the book The Geographical Imagination of Annie Proulx by Christopher B. Kulp
Cover of the book Love in the Time of Ethnography by Christopher B. Kulp
Cover of the book Identity in Latin American and Latina Literature by Christopher B. Kulp
Cover of the book Paul Ricoeur's Hermeneutics and the Discourse of Mark 13 by Christopher B. Kulp
Cover of the book Young People's Lives and Sexual Relationships in Rural Africa by Christopher B. Kulp
Cover of the book The Evolution of Human Wisdom by Christopher B. Kulp
Cover of the book China's Urban Health Care Reform by Christopher B. Kulp
Cover of the book Recruitment, Retention, and Engagement of a Millennial Workforce by Christopher B. Kulp
Cover of the book International Governance, Regimes, and Globalization by Christopher B. Kulp
Cover of the book Political Pioneer of the Press by Christopher B. Kulp
Cover of the book Women Constructing Men by Christopher B. Kulp
Cover of the book Mapping and Charting in Early Modern England and France by Christopher B. Kulp
Cover of the book France's Lost Empires by Christopher B. Kulp
Cover of the book Revitalizing the Commons by Christopher B. Kulp
Cover of the book Marcel Proust in the Light of William James by Christopher B. Kulp
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