Justification and Moral Cognitivism: An Analysis of Jürgen Habermas's Metaethics
2018 (English)Independent thesis Advanced level (degree of Master (Two Years)), 20 credits / 30 HE credits
Student thesis
Abstract [en]
In this thesis, I scrutinise and interpret Jürgen Habermas’s claim that justification of moral norms necessitates cognitivism. I do this by analysing the general idea behind his discourse theory of morality and then his metaethics. From there, I examine the non-cognitivist theory called prescriptivism as set out by Richard Hare to see if his account of moral reasoning is able to counter Habermas’s claims and thereafter, I examine some criticism against his concept of communicative action. I also engage with the discussion on how to define cognitivism: that is, whether the line should be drawn between moral realism on the cognitivist side, and constructivism on the other, or if cognitivism can include constructivist theories too. I propose that it should, provided that it allows moral statements to be truth-apt and express a mental state like that of belief. Following this definition, I argue that Habermas can be labelled a cognitivist and finally, I conclude that Habermas's argument does not hold under scrutiny.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
2018. , p. 68
Keywords [en]
Habermas, cognitivism, metaethics, justification, human rights
Keywords [sv]
Habermas, kognitivism, metaetik, etisk teori, berättigande, mänskliga rättigheter
National Category
Philosophy, Ethics and Religion
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-351646OAI: oai:DiVA.org:uu-351646DiVA, id: diva2:1210641
Subject / course
Human Rights
Educational program
Master Programme in Human Rights
Supervisors
Examiners
2018-05-292018-05-292018-05-29Bibliographically approved