DEPARTMENTAL EVENTS

David Copp colloquium

David Copp colloquium
Date
Fri November 4th 2016, 3:15pm
Location
Building 90, room 92Q

 

 

Just Too Different: Normative Properties, Natural Properties

Abstract:  Normative nonnaturalists find normative naturalism to be completely implausible.  Their view is driven in part by the intuition that normative properties are just too different from natural properties for it to be possible they are natural properties.  I aim to defuse this intuition.  I contend that it rests on pre-theoretical ways of thinking of the normative properties together with a drive to vindicate these ways of thinking, something of which people may be unaware.  I distinguish the idea of a “way of thinking” or “WOT” of something from the idea of a “concept.”  I contend that there are two related WOTs of normative properties that we acquire in the ordinary course of moral learning.  I propose that the Just Too Different intuition is due to the effect on our beliefs of  a pervasive drive we have, as rational agents, to vindicate our ways of thinking.  This drive explains our tendency to think well of those we love, for example.  It also explains a strong inclination to form beliefs that, if true, would seemingly vindicate our WOTs of normative properties.  A result of this, I contend, is the intuition that normative naturalism cannot be true.

 

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