Moral Realism And The Foundations Of Ethics

CAMBRIDGE STUDIES IN PHILOSOPHY Moral realism and the foundations of ethics Cambridge Books Online © Cambridge University Press, 2010 C A M B R I D G E S T U D I E S IN P H I L O S O P H Y General editor SYDNEY SHOEMAKER Advisory editors j . E. J . ALTHAM, SIMON BLACKBURN, GILBERT HARMAN, MARTIN HOLLIS, FRANK JACKSON, JONATHAN LEAR, WILLIAM LYCAN, JOHN PERRY, BARRY STROUD JAMES CARGILE Paradoxes: a study inform and predication PAUL M . CHURCHLAND Scientific realism and the plasticity of mind N. M. L. NATHAN Evidence and assurance WILLIAM LYONS Emotion PETER SMITH Realism and the progress of science BRIAN LOAR Mind and meaning j . F. ROSS Portraying analogy DAVID HEYD Supererogation PAUL H O R W I C H Probability and evidence ELLERY EELLS Rational decision and causality H O W A R D ROBINSON Matter and sense E. j . BOND Reason and value D. M . ARMSTRONG What is a law of nature? HENRY E. KYBURG, J R . Theory and measurement MICHAEL H . ROBINS Promising, intending and moral autonomy N. j . H . DENT The moral psychology of the virtues R. A. DUFF Trials and punishments FLINT SCHIER Deeper into pictures A N T H O N Y APPIAH Assertion and conditionals ROBERT BROWN Analyzing love ROBERT M . GORDON The structure of emotions FRANCOIS RECANATI Meaning and force WILLIAM G. LYCAN Judgment and justification w. D . HART The engines of the soul GERALD DWORKIN The theory and practice of autonomy Cambridge Books Online © Cambridge University Press, 2010 Moral realism and the foundations of ethics David O. Brink Massachusetts Institute of Technology The right of the University of Cambridge to print and sell all manner of books was granted by Henry VIII in 1534 The University has printed and published continuously since 1584. Cambridge University Press New York Cambridge New Rochelle Melbourne Sydney Cambridge Books Online © Cambridge University Press, 2010 CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS Cambridge, New York, Melbourne, Madrid, Cape Town, Singapore, Sao Paulo Cambridge University Press The Edinburgh Building, Cambridge CB2 8RU, UK Published in the United States of America by Cambridge University Press, New York www.cambridge.org Information on this title: www.cambridge.org/9780521350808 © Cambridge University Press 1989 This publication is in copyright. Subject to statutory exception and to the provisions of relevant collective licensing agreements, no reproduction of any part may take place without the written permission of Cambridge University Press. First published 1989 A catalogue record for this publication is available from the British Library Library of Congress Cataloguing in Publication data Brink, David Owen, 1958— Moral realism and the foundations of ethics / David O. Brink. p. cm. - (Cambridge studies in philosophy) Bibliography: p. Includes index. ISBN 0-521-35080-8. ISBN 0-521-35937-6 (pbk.) 1. Ethics. 2. Realism. I. Title. II. Series. BJ1012.B676 1989 170-dcl9 88-16179 CIP ISBN 978-0-521-35080-8 hardback ISBN 978-0-521-35937-5 paperback Transferred to digital printing 2008 Cambridge Books Online © Cambridge University Press, 2010 Contents Preface page ix 1. INTRODUCTION 1 1. Obje