Ethical naturalism

Definition

Ethical naturalism is the philosophical view that ethical truths and values are rooted in the natural world and can be understood through empirical observation and scientific inquiry. This perspective emphasizes that moral principles are not merely subjective or socially constructed but can be derived from human nature, biology, and the broader context of the natural universe.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Ethical naturalism posits that moral facts can be investigated and understood similarly to facts in the natural sciences, linking ethics with empirical data.
2. This approach stands in contrast to ethical non-naturalism, which argues that moral truths exist independently of natural properties.
3. In contemporary philosophy, ethical naturalism is often associated with a commitment to using scientific findings to inform ethical understanding and decision-making.
4. Neo-Aristotelian ethics incorporates elements of ethical naturalism by emphasizing human flourishing and well-being as central to moral evaluation.
5. Critics of ethical naturalism argue that it may struggle to adequately explain how moral values arise from natural facts without falling into is-ought dilemmas.

Review Questions

• How does ethical naturalism relate to the concept of moral realism in contemporary ethical discussions?
  • Ethical naturalism is closely related to moral realism as both posit the existence of objective moral truths. Ethical naturalists argue that these truths can be discovered through empirical investigation, while moral realists maintain that such truths exist independently of human belief. This connection highlights a shared commitment to understanding morality as something that can be examined critically rather than viewed as purely subjective.
• Discuss how neo-Aristotelian approaches integrate ethical naturalism into their understanding of morality and human flourishing.
  • Neo-Aristotelian approaches integrate ethical naturalism by grounding morality in human nature and well-being. This perspective suggests that ethical values can be derived from understanding what it means to live a good life as a human being. By focusing on virtues and character traits that promote flourishing, neo-Aristotelian ethics aligns with the idea that moral principles have a basis in our biological and social realities, making ethics relevant and applicable in everyday life.
• Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of ethical naturalism in addressing contemporary ethical dilemmas.
  • Ethical naturalism has strengths in providing a framework for deriving moral values from observable human behaviors and conditions, which can lead to practical solutions for contemporary dilemmas. However, its weaknesses include challenges in addressing the 'is-ought' problem, where deriving normative conclusions solely from descriptive facts may overlook important subjective dimensions of morality. Additionally, critics argue that relying on empirical data might lead to reductionist views that fail to capture the complexity of ethical considerations in diverse contexts.

Related terms

Moral realism: The belief that there are objective moral truths that exist independently of individual beliefs or cultural norms.

Consequentialism: An ethical theory that judges the rightness or wrongness of actions based on their outcomes or consequences.

Virtue ethics: A moral theory that focuses on the character of the moral agent rather than on rules or consequences, emphasizing the importance of developing virtuous traits.