Ethics and Action Theory: An Unhappy Divorce (original) (raw)

Three conceptions of action in moral theory

Nous, 2001

Philosophers have long been interested in the relation between the world and the mind which strives to know it. In this paper I argue that there is also a deep question about the relation between the world and the agent who strives to act in it. The question is not primarily about the ...

Three Contemporary Perspectives on Moral Philosophy

Philosophical Investigations, 2007

Each of these books is grappling with one or another aspect of a supposedly impersonal and universalist element of morals. Two of them aim to show the good sense that can be made of that element from a specific perspective: Hilary Putnam from the perspective of post-metaphysical (or post-ontological) philosophy, and Christine Swanton from the perspective of virtue theory. Jonathan Dancy's relation to that element is different. He targets for criticism one specific and common way, via an understanding of reasons for action, in which a universalist (or "generalist") conception has been promoted. I shall begin with Dancy: in discussing him I explicitly thematise the issue of universalism. (Because for most of this article I explore my differences with these authors, I should state clearly that all three books are well worth reading. Each is fertile, well-pondered and illuminating in a range of ways; and in what follows I take a great many of the merits of each for granted.)

Anscombe's Modern Moral Philosophy: A Millian Response

Kinesis, 2009

Anscombe (1958) believes her article demonstrates: (1) ethics cannot move forward without an adequate philosophical psychology (2) the emphatic sense of “ought” ought to bediscarded and (3) modern moral philosophers from Sidgwick to the present exhibit very few differences. Anscomberemarks that all the modern moral philosophers use the term“ought” in such a way that it demands a lawgiver. However,none of them admit of a lawgiver. Thus, she believes theyshould all be rejected. Among the modern moral ethicists,she is very critical of John Stuart Mill. I argue that Mill hasa fully developed philosophical psychology that explicatesthe importance of sympathy. From this, he is not only ableto counter her charges against utilitarianism, but also escapethe problem of using “ought” emphatically.

The Question of Moral Action: A Formalist Position

Sociological Theory, 2011

This article develops a research position that allows cultural sociologists to compare morality across sociohistorical cases. In order to do so, the article suggests focusing analytic attention on actions that fulfill the following criteria: (a) actions that define the actor as a certain kind of socially recognized person, both within and across fields; (b) actions that actors experience—or that they expect others to perceive—as defining the actor both intersituationally and to a greater extent than other available definitions of self; and (c) actions to which actors either have themselves, or expect others to have, a predictable emotional reaction. Such a position avoids both a realist moral sociology and descriptive-relativism, and provides sociologists with criteria for comparing moral action in different cases while staying attuned to social and historical specificity.

Modern Moral Philosophy Before and After Anscombe

Enrahonar: an international journal of theoretical and practical reason, 2020

espanolEste articulo argumenta que habia considerablemente mas filosofia de accion en teoria moral antes de 1958 (cuando Anscombe se quejo de su falta bajo el lema «filosofia de la psicologia») que la que ha habido desde entonces. Esto se debe en parte a que Anscombe influyo en la formacion de la «teoria de la virtud» como otra posicion mas dentro de la etica normativa, y el trabajo de Anscombe contribuyo a la formacion de la «psicologia moral» como una rama completamente distinta (y ahora cada vez mas empirica) de la filosofia moral. catalaAquest article argumenta que hi havia considerablement mes filosofia d’accio en teoria moral abans de 1958 (quan Anscombe es va queixar que en faltava sota el lema «filosofia de la psicologia») que la que hi ha hagut des de llavors. Aixo es deu en part al fet que Anscombe va influir en la formacio de la «teoria de la virtut» com una posicio mes dins de l’etica normativa, i el treball d’Anscombe va contribuir a la formacio de la «psicologia moral»...

Moral Theory and its Role in Everyday Moral Thought and Action

Routledge Handbook of Moral Epistemology, 2018

The chapter juxtaposes the fairly quick and automatic thinking and decision making that constitutes everyday moral thought and action with the slower, more complicated, and more reflective thinking that steps beyond everyday moral thought. When everyday moral thought runs into difficulties, we are led to thinking about moral principles. Even when everyday moral thought does not run into difficulties, it can be challenged by repeated “why?” questions. Pushed far enough, such questions have to be answered either by admitting ignorance or by pointing to theses about whatever ultimately makes acts morally required, permissible, or prohibited. Such theses are moral theories. The paper ends by pointing out a respect in which everyday moral thought is more like rule-consequentialism, contractualism, foundational pluralism, and virtue ethics than everyday moral thought is like traditional act-consequentialism.