The Naturalistic Fallacy

Paperback / softback

Main Details

Title The Naturalistic Fallacy
Authors and Contributors      Edited by Neil Sinclair
SeriesClassic Philosophical Arguments
Physical Properties
Format:Paperback / softback
Pages:294
Dimensions(mm): Height 246,Width 173
Category/GenreWestern philosophy from c 1900 to now
Ethics and moral philosophy
ISBN/Barcode 9781316618011
ClassificationsDewey:170.42
Audience
Professional & Vocational
Illustrations 2 Line drawings, black and white

Publishing Details

Publisher Cambridge University Press
Imprint Cambridge University Press
Publication Date 6 December 2018
Publication Country United Kingdom

Description

At the turn of the twentieth century, G. E. Moore contemptuously dismissed most previous 'ethical systems' for committing the 'Naturalistic Fallacy'. This fallacy - which has been variously understood, but has almost always been seen as something to avoid - was perhaps the greatest structuring force on subsequent ethical theorising. To a large extent, to understand the Fallacy is to understand contemporary ethics. This volume aims to provide that understanding. Its thematic chapters - written by a range of distinguished contributors - introduce the history, text and philosophy behind Moore's charge of fallacy and its supporting 'open question' argument. They detail how the fallacy influenced multiple traditions in ethics (including evolutionary, religious and naturalistic approaches), its connections to supposed dichotomies between 'is'/'ought' and facts/values, and its continuing relevance to our understanding of normativity. Together, the chapters provide a historical and opinionated introduction to contemporary ethics that will be essential for students, teachers and researchers.

Author Biography

Neil Sinclair is Associate Professor of Philosophy at the University of Nottingham. He has written for a number of journals such as Analysis, The Philosophical Quarterly, Biology and Philosophy and The European Journal of Philosophy, and was co-editor with Uri D. Leibowitz of Explanation in Ethics and Mathematics: Debunking and Dispensability (2016).