Naturalism and the Normative Domain: Accounting for Normativity with the Help of 18th Century Empathy-Sentimentalism (original) (raw)

The paper explores the relationship between normativity and naturalism in the context of the social sciences, particularly how 18th century empathy-sentimentalism can provide insights into normativity's place within empirical social theories. It critiques the historical divide between reducing 'ought' to 'is' and examines emerging frameworks from evolutionary and cognitive sciences which challenge traditional views of norms and values. The essays aim to bridge philosophical inquiries with contemporary social scientific methods to reflect on the complexities of normativity in an increasingly mechanistic world.