Peer-Reviewed Journal Details
Mandatory Fields
Dockstader, Jason
2019
July
Metaphilosophy
Nonassertive moral abolitionism
Validated
Optional Fields
Metaethics Moral abolitionism Moral antirealism Moral error theory Moral nihilism
50
4
481
502
Proponents of moral abolitionism, like Richard Garner, qualify their view as an “assertive” version of the position. They counsel moral realists and anti-realists alike to accept moral error theory, abolish morality, and encourage others to abolish morality. In response, this paper argues that moral error theorists should abolish morality, but become quiet about such abolition. It offers a quietist or nonassertive version of moral abolitionism. It does so by first clarifying and addressing the arguments for and against assertive moral abolitionism. Second, it develops novel criticisms of assertive moral abolitionism and offers nonassertive moral abolitionism in response. Third, it discusses how various metaethical views might respond to nonassertive moral abolitionism. Its basic claim is that nonassertive moral abolitionism provides superior therapeutic benefits over assertive moral abolitionism and other conserving and reforming approaches to moral discourse.
0026-1068
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/meta.12368
10.1111/meta.12368
Grant Details