Proper Function and Ethical Judgment Towards A Biosemantic Theory of Ethical Thought and Discourse

Johnson, Drew

doi:10.1007/s10670-021-00481-y

Cited by 1 publication

(1 citation statement)

References 66 publications

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“…For further discussion of these claims see Bloomfield (2013). 8 Drew Johnson (2021) has developed a compelling semantic framework for moral terms based on Millikan's teleosemantics that is overall consistent with the present picture. For more on moral language in this regard, see Bloomfield (1998Bloomfield ( , 2001Bloomfield ( , 2003 and Dowell (2016) What about Hume's famous dictum (1739) that we can never derive an "ought" from an "is"?…”

Section: From Function To Fitnessmentioning

confidence: 55%

Function, Fitness, Flourishing

Bloomfield

2023

The Oxford Handbook of Moral Realism

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A naturalistic theory of moral realism, based on ancient Greek eudaimonism, is presented using concepts from biological and evolutionary theory. The general empirical claim is that each species evolves traits which promote flourishing in those individual members who develop them. Using biological analogies, Plato (Repub 352d–354c) and Aristotle (NE 1097b21–1098a20) gave their ergon arguments defending the functional excellence of the virtues and their central role in making human lives flourish. A new version of these arguments is based on a contemporary understanding of biological function and individual fitness, and a definition of “eudaimonia” constructed from this naturalistic basis. Human beings will live as well as possible by developing the virtues, for these traits allow us to act as well as possible regardless of the individual circumstances. Many standard objections are resolved, including Enoch’s “just too different” objection, Millgram’s Pollyanna objection, Copp and Sobel’s objection from relativism, and Watson’s gangster objection.

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Section: From Function To Fitnessmentioning

confidence: 55%

Function, Fitness, Flourishing

Bloomfield

2023

The Oxford Handbook of Moral Realism

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Proper Function and Ethical Judgment Towards A Biosemantic Theory of Ethical Thought and Discourse

Cited by 1 publication

References 66 publications

Function, Fitness, Flourishing

Function, Fitness, Flourishing

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