Scientific Explanation and Moral Explanation*

Abstract

Moral philosophers are, among other things, in the business of constructing moral theories. And moral theories are, among other things, supposed to explain moral phenomena. Consequently, one's views about the nature of moral explanation will influence the kinds of moral theories one is willing to countenance. Many moral philosophers are (explicitly or implicitly) committed to a deductive model of explanation. As I see it, this commitment lies at the heart of the current debate between moral particularists and moral generalists. In this paper I argue that we have good reasons to give up this commitment. In fact, I show that an examination of the literature on scientific explanation reveals that we are used to, and comfortable with, non-deductive explanations in almost all areas of inquiry. As a result, I argue that we have reason to believe that moral explanations need not be grounded in exceptionless moral principles.

Understanding Why

“…Just a selection include Strevens (2008) Woodward (2003aWoodward ( , 2003b, Ruben (1990). Different types of explanation are specifically discussed in Leibowitz (2011), Jenkins (2008. 9 Similar phenomena have been pointed out with regard to knowledge that p, which can (but as Hawthorne 2003, p 77-80 points out, need not) motivate a contextualism or contrastivism about knowledge.…”

“…Just a selection include Strevens () Woodward (, ), Ruben (). Different types of explanation are specifically discussed in Leibowitz (), Jenkins ().…”

Reasons and Moral Principles

“…37 Some recent contributions include Robinson (2008;), Väyrynen (2009b), and Leibowitz (2011. 38 Dancy (2000) In any of these forms, holist generalism will endorse more complicated principles than generalists have traditionally endorsed.…”

“…6). Particularists sometimes criticize generalism on the grounds that good explanations needn't be deductive or "guarantee" the facts being explained; see Dancy (2000), Little (2000), and Leibowitz (2011).…”

Les voies d'avenir du magasin physique à l'heure du commerce connecté

“…Il les réoriente d'abord vers une efficacité et des compétences accrues : l'asymétrie de l'information est renversée; très bien renseigné, le client recherche une expertise ou fait partie d'une communauté d' experts. Il les réoriente ensuite vers une écoute et une empathie plus grandes : face au refus des sollicitations commerciales pressantes, le rôle du « vendeur » est moins de vendre que d'accompagner 25 . Il les réoriente enfin vers une authenticité accrue : l'avenir du magasin exige de restaurer un lien de confiance et de créer une relation plus profonde et plus riche avec les consommateurs 26 .…”