The Routledge Handbook of Metaethics (Routledge Handbooks in Philosophy)

This Handbook surveys the contemporary state of the burgeoning field of metaethics. Forty-four chapters, all written exclusively for this volume, provide expert introductions to: the central research programs that frame metaethical discussions the central explanatory challenges, resources, and strategies that inform contemporary work in those research programs debates over the status of metaethics, and the appropriate methods to use in metaethical inquiry This is essential reading for anyone with a serious interest in metaethics, from those coming to it for the first time to those actively pursuing research in the field. Cover Cover Endrosement Half Title Series Page Title Page Copyright Page Table of Contents Contributors Acknowledgments Preface Introduction: The Nature and Explanatory Ambitions of Metaethics Introduction The Proposal Consequences and Clarifications Competitors, Challenges, and Complications Conclusion Acknowledgments References Part 1 Central Organizing Options in Metaethics Chapter1 Non-Naturalistic Realism in Metaethics Obviously, the Default Position So Why Isn’t Everyone on Board? Wait, What Exactly Is the View? Arguments Acknowledgments References Chapter 2 Naturalistic Realism in Metaethics Realism Naturalism: Two Basic Orientations Naturalism After Moore: Analytic and Non-Analytic Approaches Supervenience and Explanation Difficulties With Naturalistic Realism References Chapter 3 Error Theory in Metaethics Introduction: Error Theory, What? The Argument from Queerness and the Queerness Arguments What’s Queer? On Irreducible Normativity Responses to the Argument from Queerness Acknowledgments References Chapter 4 Fictionalism in Metaethics Introduction Hermeneutic Moral Fictionalism But Can It Really Be So Easy? Revolutionary Moral Fictionalism References Chapter 5 Metaethical Expressivism What is Expressing? How Do Words Express? Conclusion Note Acknowledgments References Chapter 6 Metaethical Contextualism Metaethical Contextualism: What? Normative Disagreement in Discourse Normative Attitudes and Attitude Ascriptions Normative Language and Contextual Felicity Managing Context in Language Use Metaethics in Metaethical Contextualism Further Issues Acknowledgments Related Topics References Chapter 7 Metaethical Relativism Getting a Grip on Metaethical Relativism Relativism as a Plurality Of Moralities: The Metaphysical Construal Relativism as a Variability in Truth Value: The Semantic Construal Note Acknowledgments Related Topics References Further Reading Part 2 Central Problems and Strategies in Metaethics Chapter 8 Realism and Objectivity Realism: Motivating Examples and Structural Features Realism and Objectivity: The No Triviality Condition Objectivity: Epistemic Shortcomings Objectivity: The Belief-Knowledge Connection Objectivity: Collapse and the Master Argument Collapse and epistemic objectivity Connections: Magnetism More Connections: Surprising Entailments Conclusion Related Topics References Chapter 9 Metaphysical Relations in Metaethics What is a Natural Property? A Modal Proposal A Definitional Proposal A Ground-Theoretic Proposal A Question about Non-Reductive Naturalism Hyperintensionalism Varieties of Naturalism Varieties of Non-Naturalism Conclusion References Chapter 10 The Supervenience Challengeto Non-Naturalism Introduction The Supervenience Challenge Reject Brute Connection? Reject Supervenience? Conclusion Acknowledgments Related Topics References Chapter 11 Vagueness and Indeterminacy in Ethics Examples of Ethical Vagueness Semantic, Epistemic, and Metaphysical Accounts of Vagueness Ethical Vagueness and Ethical Disagreement Realists’ Accounts of Ethical Vagueness Expressivists’ Accounts of Ethical Vagueness Directions for Future Research Acknowledgments Bibliography Chapter 12 Deontic Modals Logic and Natural Language Puzzles in Deontic Semantics Deontic Modals in Ethics and Metaethics Acknowledgments References Chapter 13 Thick Concepts What Are Thick Concepts? The Main Views The Current State of Play Why Are Thick Concepts Important? Notes Acknowledgements References Chapter 14 The Frege-Geach Problem Criteria for a Solution to the Frege-Geach Problem The Metasemantic Gambit Extant Solutions to the Frege-Geach Problem B-Type Discordance Theories: Higher-Order Attitudes and Commitments B-Type Discordance Theories: Plan-Laden Semantics The Negation Problem A-Type Discordance Theories: Being For A-Type Discordance Theories: Hybrid Expressivism The Contemporary Landscape Notes Acknowledgments Related Topics References Chapter 15 Hybrid Accounts of Ethical Thought and Talk Motivations for Hybrid Cognitivism: Internalism Ethical Talk: Slurs, Conventional Implicatures, and Discourse Internalism Ethical Thought: Judgment-Individuating Hybrid Cognitivism and Motivational Internalism Challenges for Hybrid Cognitivism Conversational Implicatures? Hybrid Expressivism Some Potential Advantages of Hybrid Expressivism Challenges for Hybrid Expressivism Acknowledgments Related topics References Further reading Chapter 16 Conceptual Role Accounts of Meaning in Metaethics Introduction Some Distinctions The Conceptual Role View Developed as a Form of Noncognitivism The Conceptual Role View Developed as a Form of Cognitivism The Conceptual Role View as a Third Option Conclusion Notes Acknowledgments Related Topics References Chapter 17 The Significance of Ethical ­Disagreement for Theories of Ethical Thought and Talk Specification problems Disagreement Problems Acknowledgments References Chapter 18 Cognitivism and Non-Cognitivism A Profound Difference of Opinion The Hypotheses: Linguistic and Psychological Positive Hypotheses for Non-Cognitivism The Lay of the Land Taxonomic Troubles and Creeping Minimalism What Are Beliefs? What are Desire-Like States? Arguments Other Considerations and Conclusion AcknowlEdgments Related Topics References Chapter 19 Ethical Judgment and Motivation An Introduction to Ethical Judgment and Motivation The Evidence For and Against Simple Internalism Defeasible Internalisms Denying a Necessary Connection Complications: Mind and Language Conclusions Acknowledgments References Further Reading Chapter 20 Reasons Internalism Introduction Internalism: Central Motivations Arguments for Externalism Moral Rationalism and Internalism Conclusion Acknowledgments References Further Reading Chapter 21 The Wrong Kind of Reasons Introduction Material Approaches Constitutivist Approaches Formal Approaches Conclusion Note Acknowledgments References Chapter 22 Mind-Dependence and Moral Realism Understanding Independence Realism and Antirealism Mind-Dependence and Normativity Conclusion Acknowledgments References Chapter 23 Constitutivism Acknowledgments References Chapter 24 Constructivism Constructivism: The Basic Idea Motivations for Constructivism A More Precise Formulation of Constructivism The Constructivist Explanation of Normative Truth The Metaethical Implications of Constructivism The Relationship between Metaethical and Normative Theorizing Acknowledgments Related Topics References Chapter 25 Normativity and Agency Normativity and Agency: Some Basics Agency and Deliberative Open Questions The Deliberative Constraint: Doubts, Merits, and Conceptual Choices2 Further Connections and Topics Notes Acknowledgments Related Topics References Chapter 26 Mores and Morals: Metaethics and the Social World Does the Social Function of Morality Constrain What Morality Is? Can the Sociology of Morality Inform Our Philosophical Theory of Morality? How Can a Metaethical Theory Satisfy the Demands of Sociality? Related Topics References Further reading Chapter 27 The Autonomy of Ethics Introduction Logical Autonomy Metaphysical Autonomy Epistemological Autonomy Conclusion Note References Chapter 28 Explanatory Challenges in Metaethics Introduction Robust Moral Realism Harman’s Challenge Evolutionary Debunking Arguments Irrelevant Influence Arguments The Reliability Challenge Conclusion Acknowledgments Related Topics References Further Reading Chapter 29 Moral Expertise Introduction Varieties of Moral Expertise and the Expertise/Expert Distinction Metaethics and the Possibility of Moral Expertise Expertise and Moral Epistemology Conclusion References Chapter 30 Intuitionism in Moral Epistemology Moral Intuitionism: A General Characterization Why Be a Moral Intuitionist? Objections to Intuitionism Rationalist Intuitionism: Old and New Appearance Intuitionism Response Intuitionism Conclusion Acknowledgements Related Topics References Further Reading Chapter 31 Moral Skepticism Varieties of SKEPTICAL Argument and the Inescapability of Explanatory Connections A Refined Version of the Connection Concern Argument Objections and Replies: A Sketch Conclusion Note Related Topics References Further Reading Chapter 32 The Epistemic Significance of Moral Disagreement Introduction Metaphysical versus Epistemological Arguments from Disagreement From Initial Thoughts to the Core Argument The Core Argument Refined Are There DPPs? Idealization, Error Theory, Relativism, and Intuitionism On Rejecting Premise (1): Epistemic Permissivism and Epistemic Egocentrism On Rejecting Premise (2): Demoting One’s Peer On Rejecting the Inference from (3) to (4): Level-Splitting Radical Moral Disagreement: Deep, Widespread, Extreme Acknowledgements References Part 3 The Status and Methodology of Metaethics Chapter 33 Metasemantics and Metaethics The Metasemantic Task Internalist Theories Externalism The Metasemantic Construal of Expressivism Acknowledgements References Chapter 34 Conceptual Analysis in Metaethics Introduction The Classical Theory, Primitivism, and the Open Question Argument Naturalism, Synthetic Definitions, and Semantic Externalism Noncognitivism, Attitudes, and Inferences Definitions, Prototypes, and Networks Challenging the Premises of OQA: Nontransparency and Empirical Linguistics Acknowledgments References Chapter 35 Ethics and Morality Some History Ethical and Moral Concepts Ethics, Morality, and Normativity Metamorals Acknowledgements References Chapter 36 The Varieties of Normativity Introduction The Taxonomy of Normativity Skepticism about Normative Authority Notes Acknowledgments References Chapter 37 Pragmatism and Metaethics What Is Pragmatism? Pragmatism as a Departure from Archetypal Realism Cutting Structure Cutting Subject-Object Cutting “Domain-External/General” Cutting Correctness Acknowledgments Related Topics References Further Reading Chapter 38 Feminism and Metaethics Introduction Rehabilitating Traditional Moral Philosophy The Place of Politics in Philosophical Theorizing The Importance of Philosophy for Feminism Acknowledgments Related Topics References Further Reading Chapter 39 Experimental Philosophy and Moral Theory The Sociological Project The Psychological Project Conclusion Acknowledgments References Chapter 40 Quasi-realism Preliminaries What is Quasi-realism? Assessing quasi-realism Acknowledgment References Chapter 41 Metaethical Quietism Characterizing Quietism Motivations for Quietism Objections to Quietism Quietism and Philosophical Methodology Note Acknowledgments Related Topics References Chapter 42 Methodological Naturalism in Metaethics Introduction The Role of Science in Ethics: Preliminaries Metaethical Naturalism: Two Examples Naturalism and Traditional Methods of Metaethical Inquiry New Uses for Science in Metaethics Conclusion Acknowledgements References Chapter 43 Normative Ethics and Metaethics Traditional Noncognitivism Error Theory Contextualism/Relativism Reductive Naturalism Ambition in Normative Theory Summary Notes References Index "This Handbook surveys the contemporary state of the burgeoning field of metaethics. Forty-three chapters, all written exclusively for this volume, provide expert introductions to: the central research programs that frame metaethical discussionsthe central explanatory challenges, resources, and strategies that inform contemporary work in those research programs debates over the status of metaethics, and the appropriate methods to use in metaethical inquiry This is essential reading for anyone with a serious interest in metaethics, from those coming to it for the first time to those actively pursuing research in the field."--Provided by publisher This Handbook surveys the contemporary state of the burgeoning field of metaethics. Forty-three chapters, all written exclusively for this volume, provide expert introductions to: - the central research programs that frame metaethical discussions; - the central explanatory challenges, resources, and strategies that inform contemporary work in those research programs; - debates over the status of metaethics, and the appropriate methods to use in metaethical inquiry. This is essential reading for anyone with a serious interest in metaethics, from those coming to it for the first time to those actively pursuing research in the field.