In 1903 G.E. Moore celebrated a robust nonnaturalistic form of moral realism with the publication of his Principia Ethica. Subsequent years have witnessed the development and refinement of a number of views motivated at least in part by a deep resistance to the metaphysical and epistemological commitments of nonnaturalism. Over time, Moore’s view arguably has become the position of last resort ...

Decisions must be justified. In medical ethics various grounds are given to justify decisions, but ultimate justification seems illusory and little considered. The philosopher Wittgenstein discusses the problem of ultimate justification in the context of general philosophy. His comments, nevertheless, are pertinent to ethics. From a discussion of Wittgensteinian notions, such as 'bedrock', the ...

Abstract Is an outcome where many people are saved and one person dies better than the is die? According to standard utilitarian justification, former because it has a greater sum total of well-being. This justification involves controversial form moral aggregation, based on comparison between aggregates different people’s Still, alternative justification—the Argument for Best Outcomes—does not...

In decision-making based on multiple criteria, situations may arise where agents find their options to be neither better than, worse than nor equal each other with respect the relevant criteria. How, if at all, can a justified choice made between such options? Are incomparable? This article explores hypothetical case that illustrates how situation in an environmental context; more specifically,...

It’s no use pretending that what has obviously happened has not in fact happened. The upper 1 percent of Americans are now taking in nearly a quarter of the nation’s income every year. In terms of wealth rather than income, the top 1 percent control 40 percent. Their lot in life has improved considerably. Twenty-five years ago, the corresponding figures were 12 percent and 33 percent. One respo...

There is no one behavior system belonging to the essential character of the universe, as the universal moral ideal. What is universal is the spirit which should permit any behaviour system in the circumstances of its adoption. Thus morality does not indicate what you are to do in mythological abstractions. It does concern the general ideal which should be the justification for any particular ob...

Experiencing ubiquitous contention, the correlation between execution as a form of legal punishment and morality pervades in the modern era to form a central concern for examination. Competing accounts of moral theories have provided dichotomous vindications for capital punishment, indicating a substantial strife in criminal justice morality. This thesis will examine these rival philosophies in...