Empirical realism : meaning and the generative foundation of morality / David K. Clark.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Clark, David K.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Moral realism.

Physical Description:

ix, 419 pages ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

Lanham, Md. : Lexington Books, [2004]

Summary:

In Empirical Realism David K. Clark asks, simply: is there a moral structure to the universe? His answer takes a rigorous detour through key questions raised by classical philosophy, metaphysics, epistemology, and the philosophy of mind. Although the argument favors the moral realist's position that the universe does have a moral structure integral to the quality and direction of human life it also serves to further complicate this issue for moral realism.

Contents:

II. The Textual Overview 15

Part I The Metaphysical

Chapter 2 Realism vs. Antirealism: In Search of the World Well Lost 23

I. Opening Discussion 23

II. Reductive Holism: The Presupposition of the Debate 25

III. The Anatomy of the Debate 29

Chapter 3 The Midas Touch: The Enigma of Empiricism and the Dogma of Pragmatism 61

II. The Midas Touch 63

Chapter 4 Harnessing the Midas Touch: The World Recovered 81

I. Givenness: Early Considerations 81

II. The Negative Case for Givenness 83

III. The Positive Case for Givenness 90

IV. The World as Tribunal 97

Part II The Mental

Chapter 5 Psychological Meaning: Intrinsic to Internal Processes? 123

II. Foder's Internalism 126

III. Searle's Internalism 132

IV. Putnam's Strong Externalism 145

Chapter 6 Enjoying Your Experience and Having It Too 155

II. Dennett's Physicalism 160

III. The Quest for "Real Meaning" 165

III. Extensionality and Omniscience 170

IV. Qualia Re-qualified 174

V. Sense and Nonsense 181

Part III The Moral

Chapter 7 The Transition to Morality: The Preliminary Case Against Moral Realism 191

II. The Tradition 193

III. Pertinent Features of the Contemporary Scene 198

Chapter 8 The Face of Moral Realism 209

II. The Authority of Affect 212

III. Normativity: The Generative Ground of Moral Facts 217

IV. Moral Facts and Supervenience 222

V. Dignity and Basic Empirical Concepts 229

Chapter 9 Moral Realism Under Fire 241

I. Dignity and Moral Sensibility 242

II. Objectivity and Queerness 251

III. Internalism 254

IV. Realism by Fiat? 260

Chapter 10 No Exit: The Exclusive Disjunction 269

I. Moral Facts as the Alternative to Caprice 270

II. What Do We Owe To Others? 273

III. Commitment and Value 281

IV. Norm-Expressivism 284

V. Sources of Normativity? 288

Chapter 11 The Marriage of Heaven and Hell: Monism and Pluralism Together Again 307

II. Callicott's Monism 310

III. The Principle of Considerability 315

IV. Moral Facts and the Principle of Consideration 316

V. Monism vs. Pluralism: Conclusion 324

Chapter 12 Beyond Focal Things and Practices 329

I. Eloquence and the Platonic Glare 330

II. The Disclosure Premise 334

III. Focal Things and Practices 338

Chapter 13 Dignity as the Meaning of Being 347

I. Opening Considerations 347

II. Dignity and the Meaning of Being 351

III. Theoretical Distinctions and Paradigm Cases 354

IV. Dignity: Original and Consequential 358

V. Gathering as Nature: Natural and "Non-natural" Things 361

VI. Intrinsic Worth and Equality 365

Chapter 14 Adjudication: Convergence and Vision 373

II. Vital and Non-vital Needs 375

III. Non-vital Needs: Hunting and Predation 389

IV. The Ecosystem 395.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages [409]-411) and index.

ISBN:

0739107666

OCLC:

52854041