Metaethics, teleosemantics and the function of moral judgements

Sinclair, Neil

Abstract

This paper applies the theory of teleosemantics to the issue of moral content. Two versions of teleosemantics are distinguished: input-based and output-based. It is argued that applying either to the case of moral judgements generates the conclusion that such judgements have both descriptive (belief-like) and directive (desire-like) content, intimately entwined. This conclusion directly validates neither descriptivism nor expressivism, but the application of teleosemantics to moral content does leave the descriptivist with explanatory challenges which the expressivist does not face. Since teleosemantics ties content to function, the paper also offers an account of the evolutionary function of moral judgements.

Citation

Sinclair, N. (2012). Metaethics, teleosemantics and the function of moral judgements. Biology and Philosophy, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10539-012-9316-4

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Apr 3, 2012
• Deposit Date: Apr 12, 2012
• Publicly Available Date: Apr 12, 2012
• Journal: Biology and Philosophy
• Print ISSN: 0169-3867
• Electronic ISSN: 1572-8404
• Publisher: Springer Verlag
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10539-012-9316-4
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/710058
• Publisher URL: http://www.springerlink.com/content/f5600uu426458r50/
• Related Public URLs: http://philpapers.org/archive/SINMTA-2
• Additional Information: The original publication is available at www.springerlink.com