W.V.O. QUINE ON ETHICS AND CORRESPONDENCE THEORY OF TRUTH: AN APPRAISAL

Joyce Mayokun Olowoniyi

Abstract


The paper identified and explicated Quine’s argument for the methodological infirmity of ethics. It examined the various arguments that have been raised in response to the Quinean argument on ethics. It also examined arguments in support of the peculiarity of ethics as a field of enquiry. This was with a view to determining the peculiarity of ethics as compared with science. This study was based on critical analysis of primary and secondary sources on Quine’s methodological infirmity of Ethics. The results of the analysis show that Quine is right with his allegation of the methodological infirmity of ethics given his holism theory. The study discovers that the arguments of scholars against Quine’s claim on the correspondent lot of ethics were misconceptions of Quine’s methodological infirmity of ethics: because ethics as a field of enquiry is peculiarly different from science. The conclusion of the study is that despite the correctness of the Quinean claim about the infirmity of the methodology of ethics, ethics is peculiarly different from pure science as a field of human inquiry. Hence, it concludes that this peculiarity would not make the methodology of ethics infirm before the tribunal of science.

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References


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p 42

iiQuine W.V.O., Theories and Thing (Harvard: Harvard University Press, 1981) p

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vFasikuGbenga, “Moral Facts, Possible Moral Worlds and Naturalized Ethicsâ€,

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vi Flanagan O.J., “Quinean Ethicsâ€, Opt cit, p 71

viiIbid

viiiQuine W.V.O., Theories and Thing, Opt cit, p 53

ixWhite M., “Normative Ethics, Normative Epistemology, And Quine’s Holism†in

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xiiiFasikuGbenga, “Moral Facts, Possible Moral Worlds and Naturalized Ethicsâ€, p

xivFasikuGbenga, “Moral Facts, Possible Moral Worlds and Naturalized Ethicsâ€, p

xvQuine, W.V.O., From a Logical Point of View, Opt cit

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xvii A detailed understanding about this can be seen in Ludwig Wittgenstein’s

Language Game Theory.

xviiiMoody-Adams M.M., “On the Alleged Methodological Infirmity of Ethics†in

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xix This argument however can be a subject for further academic research which is

not necessary for the scope of this thesis.

xx Harman Gilbert, The Nature of Morality, An introduction to Ethics (New York:

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xxiRoskies Adina, “Neuroethics for the New Millenium†in Neuron Vol. 35

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xxiiRoskies Adina, “Neuroethics for the New Milleniumâ€opt cit, p22

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