Conservatism in Metaethics: A Case Study

Cowie, Christopher

Abstract

Metaethicists typically develop and assess their theories—in part—on the basis of the consistency of those theories with “ordinary” first-order normative judgment. They are, in this sense, “methodologically conservative.” This article shows that this methodologically conservative approach obstructs a proper assessment of the debate between internalists and externalists. Specifically, it obstructs one of the most promising readings of internalism. This is a reading—owed to Bernard Williams—in which internalism is part of a practically and politically motivated revision of the assessment of action. The article uses this case study to highlight the role of methodological conservatism in contemporary metaethics more generally.

Citation

Cowie, C. (2015). Conservatism in Metaethics: A Case Study. Metaphilosophy, 46(4-5), 605-619. https://doi.org/10.1111/meta.12159

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Online Publication Date: Nov 13, 2015
• Publication Date: 2015-10
• Deposit Date: Sep 6, 2017
• Journal: Metaphilosophy
• Print ISSN: 0026-1068
• Electronic ISSN: 1467-9973
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 46
• Issue: 4-5
• Pages: 605-619
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/meta.12159
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1350136