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How to be a child, and bid lions and dragons farewell : the consequences of moral error theory

Authors :
Hunt, David James
Publication Year :
2020
Publisher :
University of Birmingham, 2020.

Abstract

Moral error theorists argue that moral thought and discourse are systematically in error, and that nothing is, or can ever be, morally permissible, required or forbidden. I begin by discussing how error theorists arrive at this conclusion. I then argue that if we accept a moral error theory, we cannot escape a pressing problem - what should we do next, metaethically speaking? I call this problem the 'what now?' problem, or WNP for short. I discuss the attempts others have made to respond to the WNP, and in each case I show that the responses fail to be satisfying. I then propose a new response to the WNP, which I call revolutionary relativism. I define revolutionary relativism, explain why it is preferable to the existing responses to the WNP, and defend it against the most problematic objections I anticipate that opponents might raise. I conclude that revolutionary relativism succeeds where previous WNP responses fail, and that if we accept a moral error theory, we should become revolutionary relativists.

Subjects

Subjects :
B Philosophy (General)

Details

Language :
English
Database :
British Library EThOS
Publication Type :
Dissertation/ Thesis
Accession number :
edsble.841096
Document Type :
Electronic Thesis or Dissertation