Conflicting Values and Moral Pluralism in Normative Ethics

Francesco Allegri

Abstract


This article explores the characteristics and problems of moral pluralism, a model of theory of obligation in normative ethics according to which (1) there is a plurality of basic moral principles; (2) these different principles may conflict with one another; (3) there is no strict order of priority for resolving conflicts between them. The author argues that this kind of theory satisfies better than competing proposals the requirement of conformity with our reflexive intuitions and, while not having a general resolution procedure, is able to settle the problem of conflict between the principles. He concludes pointing out that, despite all that can be done to improve conflict resolution methodologies, some margin of indeterminacy in moral theories is inevitable. And it is good that there is. Moral theories should not be a handbook of answers to be applied mechanically, without leaving room for autonomy of judgment by the evaluating subject.


Keywords


conflicting values; moral pluralism; normative ethics; theory of moral obligation

Full Text:

PDF

References


Audi, Robert. The Good in the Right. A Theory of Intuition and Intrinsic Value. Princeton-Oxford: Princeton University Press, 2004.

Beauchamp, Tom L. James F. Childress. Principles of Biomedical Ethics. New York-Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2019.

Butler, Joseph. “Analogy of Religion.” In: Joseph Butler. The Works of Bishop Butler. London: Macmillan, 1900.

Carritt, Edgard F. Ethical and Political Thinking. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1947.

Davidson, Donald. “How is Weakness of the Will Possible?” In: Moral Concepts, ed. Joel Feinberg, 93–113. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1969.

DeGrazia, David. Joseph Millum. A Theory of Bioethics. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2021.

Frankena, William Klaas. Ethics. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall, 1973.

Gaut, Berys. “Moral Pluralism.” Philosophical Papers 22, no. 1 (1993): 17–40.

Gaut, Berys. “Rag-Bags, Disputes and Moral Pluralism.” Utilitas 11, no. 1 (1999): 37–48.

Gaut, Berys. “Justifying Moral Pluralism.” In: Ethical Intuitionism: Re-evaluations, ed. Philip Stratton-Lake, 137–160. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 2002.

Hooker, Brad. Ideal Code, Real World: A Rule-consequentialist Theory of Morality. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 2000.

Kant, Immanuel. Groundwork of the Metaphysic of Morals. Transl. James W. Ellington. Hackett: Indianapolis, 1993.

McCloskey, Henry John. Meta-Ethics and Normative Ethics. The Hague: Martinus Nijhoff, (1969).

McNaughton, David. “An Unconnected Heap of Duties.” The Philosophical Quarterly 46, no. 185 (1996): 433–447.

Price, Richard. A Review of the Principal Questions in Morals. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1948.

Prichard, Harold A. Moral Obligation and Duty and Interest. Essays and Lectures. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1968.

Raphael, David Daiches. Moral Judgement. London: George Allen & Unwin, 1955.

Ross, William David. The Right and the Good. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1930.

Ross, William David. Foundations of Ethics. The Gifford Lectures delivered in the University of Aberdeen, 1935-6. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1939.

Veatch, Robert M. “Resolving Conflicts Among Principles: Ranking, Balancing, Specifying.” Kennedy Institute of Ethics Journal 5, no. 3 (1995): 199–218.

Warnock, Geoffrey J. The Object of Morality. London: Methuen 1971.




DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.17951/kw.2022.34.9-26
Date of publication: 2023-02-14 12:07:23
Date of submission: 2022-09-05 01:51:48


Statistics


Total abstract view - 941
Downloads (from 2020-06-17) - PDF - 0

Indicators



Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Copyright (c) 2023

License URL: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/deed.pl