Exemplarist Moral Theory
Linda Zagzebski
Abstract
This book develops an original moral theory based on direct reference to exemplars of goodness, identified through the emotion of admiration. Since a motivating emotion is at the root of the theory, it is intended to serve the practical purpose of making us want to act morally and showing us how to do so in addition to serving the theoretical purpose of mapping the main moral terms by reference to exemplars: “good person,” “good motive,” “good end,” “virtue,” “good life,” “right act,” and “duty.” The theory links the a priori side of ethics with empirical work in psychology and neuroscience, a ... More
This book develops an original moral theory based on direct reference to exemplars of goodness, identified through the emotion of admiration. Since a motivating emotion is at the root of the theory, it is intended to serve the practical purpose of making us want to act morally and showing us how to do so in addition to serving the theoretical purpose of mapping the main moral terms by reference to exemplars: “good person,” “good motive,” “good end,” “virtue,” “good life,” “right act,” and “duty.” The theory links the a priori side of ethics with empirical work in psychology and neuroscience, and it gives narratives a key function in the theory. Since it tracks a natural process of moral development in the emulation of exemplars, it connects with moral education. The methodology is illustrated with an account of three classes of exemplars: the hero, the saint, and the sage. Narratives and empirical studies in each category are described, and a principle of the division of moral linguistic labor is defended, distinguishing the linguistic task of philosophers from the linguistic task of other professionals and non-professionals.
Keywords:
exemplars,
admiration,
moral theory,
virtue,
duty,
moral education
Bibliographic Information
| Print publication date: 2017 |
Print ISBN-13: 9780190655846 |
| Published to Oxford Scholarship Online: March 2017 |
DOI:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780190655846.001.0001 |
