C-012MetaethicsConfidence: Medium

Conceptual Ethics II.

Burgess, Alexis, and David Plunkett (2013)

One-Sentence Thesis

Conceptual ethics is a field of study that examines which concepts we ought to use to think and talk about the world, and it has the potential to be a systematic and unified branch of normative theory.

Argument Outline

  1. 1Introduction to conceptual ethics and its importance
  2. 2Discussion of eliminativism and revolutionary fictionalism as positions within conceptual ethics
  3. 3Examination of the metaphysics and methodology of parameterizing questions in conceptual ethics
  4. 4Analysis of the problem of hypocrisy for arguments in favor of conceptual change

Key Distinctions

Eliminativism vs. nihilism/nominalism
Hermeneutic (descriptive) vs. revolutionary (prescriptive) fictionalism
Goods vs. goals in conceptual ethics

Key Terms

Conceptual ethics
The field of study that examines which concepts we ought to use to think and talk about the world.
Eliminativism
The normative, representational view that we ought to stop using a given term or concept.
Revolutionary fictionalism
The view that we ought to use a given concept within the scope of some sort of pretense.

Flashcards

20 cards

Related Questions

4

Which of the following does Burgess, Alexis, and David Plunkett criticizes in "Conceptual Ethics II."?

4

In Burgess, Alexis, and David Plunkett's "Conceptual Ethics II.", Burgess and Plunkett defines which of the following?

4

Which of the following does Burgess, Alexis, and David Plunkett responds to in "Conceptual Ethics II."?

3

In Burgess, Alexis, and David Plunkett's "Conceptual Ethics II.", conceptual ethics depends on which of the following?

3

In Burgess, Alexis, and David Plunkett's "Conceptual Ethics II.", Eklund provides_overview which of the following?

3

In Burgess, Alexis, and David Plunkett's "Conceptual Ethics II.", fictionalist criticizes which of the following?