Normativity all the way down: from normative realism to pannormism

Abstract

In this paper, I will give an argument for what I call pannormism, the view according to which if x instantiates a metaphysically basic normative property F, then whatever grounds the being of x also instantiates F. In slogan form: if there is normativity, there is normativity all the way down. Such pannormism is in many ways analogous to panpsychism, and my discussion also contains an important lesson for panpsychism, a way to avoid its so-called combination problem. In Sect. 1, I present the argument; in Sect. 2, I discuss its conclusion.

The moral parody argument against panpsychism

“…Second, it points in the direction of an objection that does raise very serious problems for panmoralism. Third, it shows why panmoralism has an advantage over a position recently defended by Bohn (2018), which I discuss in the next section.…”

“…In Sect. 6, I contrast panmoralism with a position recently defended by Bohn (2018) and argue that the two suffer from similar problems. Finally, in Sect.…”

“…6 Collective pluralized pannormism Bohn (2018) constructs an argument that is similar to the moral parody argument for panmoralism, but rather than taking it to be a reductio ad absurdum of a parallel argument for panpsychism, he goes on to defend two related positions that he calls "collective pluralized pannormism" and "collective pluralized panpsychism," respectively. It might be objected that these are the positions that we ought to adopt.…”

Power-ing up neo-aristotelian natural goodness

“…But why be concerned about this? Natural normativity has failed multiple attempted reductions, so perhaps we do indeed have normativity all-the-way down (Bohn, 2018). In any case, neo-Aristotelians typically think nature is inherently normative, and insofar as I am assuming their view of goodness I'm unconcerned by this objection.…”

Divine Foundationalism

“…For an argument for there being consciousness and normativity all the way down to the fundamental level, see Bohn (forthcoming3; forthcoming4). For present purposes, the question would then be whether God is needed down at the bottom level in order for there to be consciousness and normativity there.…”