This article aims to demonstrate that a special category of desire – state which is sought unconditionally, as an end (sought in and itself) the only ultimate value logical observers can conceive upon consideration sufficient conceptual depth. demonstration appeals reasoning, ultimately, reader’s inability alternate conclusions are logically consistent.   Key words: A Priori, B...

Sacrificial dilemmas, especially trolley problems, have rapidly become the most recognizable scientific exemplars of moral situations; they are now a familiar part of the psychological literature and are featured prominently in textbooks and the popular press. We are concerned that studies of sacrif icial dilemmas may lack experimental, mundane, and psychological realism and therefore suffer fr...

In this paper I discuss Taylor's criticism of contemporary moral philosophy and the role which this plays in his wider account of the development of Western moral consciousness, an account which I compare with Hans Blumenberg's The Legitimacy of the Modern Age. While I endorse Taylor's rejection of "naturalism", I deny that this entails the rejection of non-realism and I maintain that, indeed, ...

The basic question of ontology is “What exists?”. The basic question of metaontology is: are there objective answers to the basic question of ontology? Here ontological realists say yes, and ontological anti-realists say no. (Compare: The basic question of ethics is “What is right?”. The basic question of metaethics is: are there objective answers to the basic question of ethics? Here moral rea...

Consider a difficulty common to various functional accounts of value concepts: the fact that evil objects, persons, and practices can all be described as functional from at least some practical perspectives. The good robber, the good instruments of torture, and the good bombing mission are familiar examples. The solution is presumably familiar as well. What allows the possibility of calling som...