4. iv
Abstract
This thesis discusses Michael Smith’s argument for his theory of Naturalistic
Moral Realism. Smith points out, there exists “the moral problem” in ethics. The moral
problem occurs when we cannot accommodate both the objectivity and the practicality
of moral judgement, if we accept Hume’s theory of human psychology. This problem
makes the idea of morality altogether incoherent, and engenders vast discussions and
disagreements in contemporary meta-ethical theories. Smith attempts to provide his
solution to the moral problem. His solution is, in part, to defend two claims. His defense
of the first claim consists in a naturalistic account of moral realism. According to Smith,
moral judgements describe some natural states of affairs, and express beliefs that have
cognitive natural content. But Moore (a non-natural realist) and Ayer (an expressivist/
emotivist) point out, moral concepts are unanalysisable. They maintain that we cannot
define the moral in terms of the natural. Moreover, Ayer claims that moral judgements
do not describe any natural states of affairs; rather, they express attitudes. For Ayer,
moral judgements have only non-cognitive content. Smith argues that his naturalistic
moral realism can make sense of another form of definitional naturalism, which offers a
non-reductive way of analysis (dispositional analysis). That moral concepts are
analyzable provides an important premise for Smith’s argument for his second claim,
that is, moral facts are facts about the reasons that we all share.
In this thesis, first, I explain what ‘the moral problem’ is and Smith’s claim about
how to solve the problem. Then, I explain Moore’s and Ayer’s arguments against the
idea that moral concepts are analyzable. And I explain Smith’s responses to both of
them. But even if it can be justifiable that moral concepts are analyzable, is it also
reasonable and necessary to argue for naturalistic moral realism? I will discuss Smith’s
arguments. In the final chapter, Smith’s idea of dispositional analysis is further
discussed, and I shall offer my tentative reflections about Smith’s claims.
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