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Consistency, common morality, and reflective equilibrium.

Jeffrey Brand-Ballard1

  • 1Department of Philosophy, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.

Kennedy Institute of Ethics Journal
|October 28, 2003
PubMed
Summary
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This study questions the consistency of common morality, suggesting ethical theories may need revision. Exploring moral inconsistency offers new perspectives on principlist and descriptivist approaches in ethics.

Area of Science:

  • Bioethics
  • Normative Ethics
  • Moral Philosophy

Background:

  • Biomedical ethicists commonly assume a consistent common morality.
  • This assumption is often challenged in general normative ethics.
  • This paper examines the implications of potential inconsistencies in common morality.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the methodological implications of common morality inconsistency.
  • To re-evaluate the debate between principlism and descriptivism under the assumption of moral inconsistency.
  • To consider the role of revisionism in ethical theory development.

Main Methods:

  • Conceptual analysis of common morality.
  • Examination of principlist and descriptivist ethical approaches.
Keywords:
Analytical ApproachBioethics and Professional EthicsPhilosophical Approach

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  • Application of the method of reflective equilibrium.

    • Main Results:

    • Inconsistency in common morality may necessitate a less pluralist theory for principlists, aligning them more with descriptivism.
    • Descriptivists may need to qualify their claims to encompass diverse moral convictions.
    • Both approaches might benefit from a more revisionist stance, acknowledging potential conflicts with deeply held moral beliefs.

    Conclusions:

    • Assuming common morality is inconsistent offers a new lens for ethical debates.
    • Principlism and descriptivism could be seen as complementary strategies for managing moral inconsistency.
    • A robust application of reflective equilibrium may require greater acceptance of revisionism in ethical theory.