Description
Book SynopsisTheorists working on metaethics and the nature of normativity typically study goodness, rightness, what ought to be done, and so on. In their investigations they employ and consider our actual normative concepts. But the actual concepts of goodness, rightness, and what ought to be done are only some of the possible normative concepts there are. There are other possible concepts, ascribing different properties. Matti Eklund explores the consequences of this thought, for example for the debate over normative realism, and for the debate over what it is for concepts and properties to be normative. Conceptual engineering - the project of considering how our concepts can be replaced by better ones - has become a central topic in philosophy. Eklund applies this methodology to central normative concepts and discusses the special complications that arise in this case. For example, since talk of improvement is itself normative, how should we, in the context, understand talk of a concept being better?
Trade ReviewMatti Eklund's excellent Choosing Normative Concepts is a rich and wide-ranging book. ... The book is well-argued, engaging, clear and simple in style, and rewards careful study. I highly recommend it to anyone with an interest in metaethics and metanormativity. * Nicholas Drake, Journal of Moral Philosophy *
In all, this is a highly interesting book, full of important and useful theoretical resources, relevant and often neglected distinctions, and lots of things to think about for those working in meta-ethics. The book raises a lot of very relevant and fruitful questions for further research, and as such, definitely merits close consideration * Sebastian Köhler, Ethics Theory and Moral Practice *
"[Eklund's] extraordinarily rich and original book focuses on revealing new problems and possibilities that anyone with serious interest in metaethics can learn from ... I recommend the book wholeheartedly." * Tristram McPherson, Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews *
An extremely rewarding exploration of a number of issues central to meta-normative debates. * Matthew Bedke, The Philosophical Review *
An excellent work of philosophy. * Stephanie Leary, Inquiry *
"Eklunds discussion of thick concepts, objectionable normative concepts, and slurs ... is especially rich and interesting." * Sarah Zoe Raskoff, Ethics *
Table of Contents1: Ardent Realism 2: Alternative Normative Concepts 3: Qualifications and Objections 4: Normative Concepts 5: Normative Properties 6: Presentationalism 7: Being Against What Is Plainly Right 8: Connections 9: Thick Concepts 10: Some Metaphilosophical Issues 11: Concluding Remarks
