Making Morality

Todd Lekan

Description

In this new contribution to moral theory, Todd Lekan argues for a pragmatist conception of morality as an evolving, educational, and fallible practice of everyday life. Drawing on the work of John Dewey, Lekan asserts that moral norms are neither timeless truths nor subjective whims, but habits transmitted through practices. Like the habits that make up medicine or engineering, moral habits are subject to rational evaluation and change according to new challenges and circumstances. This pragmatic interpretation of morality provides a way out of the conundrum of relativism and absolutism.

Building on classical American philosophy to address current philosophical concerns, Lekan's theory revises our basic understanding of moral life and the place of theorizing within that life. Making Morality will prove of great interest to ethical theorists, as it enjoins them to measure theoretical inquiries by how well they produce intellectual tools for problem-solving in dynamic, complex communities.

Sujets

• Philosophie et théologie
• Philosophy

Informations

• Publié par: Vanderbilt University Press
• Date de parution: 01 février 2003
• Nombre de lectures: 1
• EAN13: 9780826591654
• Langue: English

Extrait

TODD LEKAN making MO|aLITY P ragmatist R econstruction in E thical T heory

Making Morality

THE VANDERBILT LIBRARY OF AMERICAN PHILOSOPHY offers interpretive perspectives on the historical roots of American philosophy and on present innovative developments in American thought, including studies of values, naturalism, social philosophy, cultural criticism, and applied ethics.

Series Editors Herman J. Saatkamp, Jr., General Editor (Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis) Cornelis de Waal, Associate Editor (Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis)

Editorial Advisory Board Kwame Anthony Appiah (Harvard) Larry Hickman (Southern Illinois University) John Lachs (Vanderbilt) John J. McDermott (Texas A&M) Joel Porte (Cornell) Hilary Putnam (Harvard) Ruth Anna Putnam (Wellesley) Beth J. Singer (Brooklyn College) John J. Stuhr (Pennsylvania State)

Making Morality

P R A G M A T I S TR E C O N S T R U C T I O N I NE T H I C A LT H E O R Y

Todd Lekan

Vanderbilt University Press •

N A S H V I L L E

© 2003 Vanderbilt University Press All rights reserved First Edition 2003

This book is printed on acid-free paper. Manufactured in the United States of America

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Lekan, Todd, 1967– Making morality : pragmatist reconstruction in ethical theory / Todd Lekan.—1st ed. p. cm.—(The Vanderbilt library of American philosophy) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0-8265-1420-0 (alk. paper) ISBN 0-8265-1421-9 (pbk. : alk. paper) 1. Ethics. 2. Pragmatism. 3. Dewey, John, 1859-1952. I. Title. II. Series. BJ1031 .L45 2002 171'.2—dc21 2002014987

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Contents

Acknowledgments

ix

Introduction Pragmatic Metaethics as Revisionism

1

A Pragmatic Account of Practical Knowledge

The Goods in Activities

61

Between Universalism and Particularism

The Boundaries and Authority of Morality: A Pragmatist View 127

Pragmatist Social Criticism

Notes

Bibliography

Index

201

177

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147

86

13

Acknowledgments

This book owes much to the insightful criticism of Hugh LaFollette, who subjected an early version of this manuscript to thoughtful, honest, and detailed criticism. Michael Eldridge of- fered many useful comments, especially with regard to the final chapters. Jennifer Welchman provided sharp criticism of the first chapter. Although she may not agree with the final result, I hope that I have managed to do some justice to her concerns. Mem- bers of the Midwest Pragmatist Study Group in Chicago heard a version of the first chapter. I cherish many discussions with group members including, among others, Charlene and Hans Seigfried, Bill Myers, Gary Herstein, and Ken Stikkers. My exposure to the work of the late Frederick L. Will while doing graduate study at the University of Illinois had an important impact on my think- ing about pragmatism. Although I only had a few occasions to interact with Will in person, I owe a great debt to him. James D. Wallace’s philosophical work, seminar in moral philosophy at the University of Illinois, and sage advice were critical sources of insight to which I remain indebted. Richard Schacht, Allen Hance, and Bert Koegler provided valuable help during the writ- ing of the dissertation that began the gestation of the ideas in this book. Robert Kraut’s seminar on Richard Rorty and Bernie Rosen’s survey course on pragmatism sparked an abiding inter- est in pragmatism while I was working on my master’s degree at Ohio State. I am grateful to both. John Lachs and Cornelis

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