Metaethics, teleosemantics and the function of moral judgements

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Sinclair, Neil (2012) Metaethics, teleosemantics and the function of moral judgements. Biology and Philosophy . ISSN 0169-3867

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Official URL: http://www.springerlink.com/content/f5600uu426458r50/

Abstract

This paper applies the theory of teleosemantics to the issue of moral content. Two versions of teleosemantics are distinguished: input-based and output-based. It is argued that applying either to the case of moral judgements generates the conclusion that such judgements have both descriptive (belief-like) and directive (desire-like) content, intimately entwined. This conclusion directly validates neither descriptivism nor expressivism, but the application of teleosemantics to moral content does leave the descriptivist with explanatory challenges which the expressivist does not face. Since teleosemantics ties content to function, the paper also offers an account of the evolutionary function of moral judgements.

Item Type:

Article

RIS ID:

https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/710058

Additional Information:

The original publication is available at www.springerlink.com

Schools/Departments:

University of Nottingham, UK > Faculty of Arts > School of Humanities > Department of Philosophy

Identification Number:

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10539-012-9316-4

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