Making Moral Sense: Beyond Habermas and Gauthier

by Logi Gunnarsson

• ISBN13: 9780521780230
• ISBN10: 0521780233
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2000-09-18
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

Is it rational to be moral? Can moral disputes be settled rationally? Which criteria determine what we have a good reason to do? In this innovative book, Logi Gunnarsson takes issue with the assumptions made by many philosophers faced with the problem of reconciling moral norms with a scientific world view. His discussion includes substantial critical engagement with thinkers from two very different traditions, and is notable for its clear account of Habermas' discourse ethics. It will appeal to anyone interested in practical reason and the rational credentials of morality.

Table of Contents

Preface	xi
Part I: Problems	1	(50)
The justificatory crisis of morality	3	(6)
Alternative resolutions of the justificatory crisis	9	(14)
Subjective reasons	23	(10)
Substantive reasons	33	(10)
Overcoming rationalism	43	(8)
Part II: Against Rationalism	51	(76)
Gauthier's contractarianism	53	(18)
From here to pre-social agreement	71	(15)
Habermas' discourse ethics	86	(23)
Discoursing about discourse	109	(18)
Part III: For the Substantive Approach	127	(100)
Self-understanding and self-assessment	129	(23)
The possibility of progress	152	(19)
Practical arguments vs. impossibility arguments	171	(26)
Evaluation of others	197	(18)
Universality without neutrality	215	(12)
Part IV: For Particularist Substantivism	227	(39)
Against formalism	229	(18)
Particularist substantivism vs. list-substantivism	247	(19)
Appendix Transcendental vs. universal pragmatics	262	(4)
Bibliography	266	(13)
Index	279