Moral Progress

by Philip Kitcher

This inaugural volume in the Munich Lectures in Ethics series presents lectures by noted philosopher Philip Kitcher. In these lectures, Kitcher develops further the pragmatist approach to moral philosophy, begun in his book The Ethical Project . He uses three historical examples of moral progress--the abolition of chattel slavery, the expansion of opportunities for women, and the increasing acceptance of same-sex love--to propose methods for moral inquiry. In his recommended methodology, Kitcher sees moral progress, for individuals and for societies, through collective discussions that become more inclusive, better informed, and involve participants more inclined to engage with the perspectives of others and aim at actions tolerable by all. The volume is introduced by Jan-Christoph Heilinger and contains commentaries from distinguished scholars Amia Srinivasan, Susan Neiman, and Rahel Jaeggi, and Kitcher's response to their commentaries.

Genres: Philosophy

196 pages, Hardcover

Published June 9, 2021

About the author

Philip Kitcher is John Dewey Professor of Philosophy at Columbia University. He was the first recipient of the American Philosophical Association's Prometheus Prize for his work to expand the frontiers of science and philosophy.

Reviews

[José Pereira · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite the theoretical mysteriousness (not 100% convinced Kitcher doesn’t need to smuggle in some normative constraints) and possible practical naivety of the core of the deliberation mechanism, the book is quite successful. Moral progress is an incredibly complex subject; to come up with a view of this substance in so few pages, and while being a non-expert is admirable.
It is true, though, that Kitcher’s pragmatism fits particularly well with the subject. I’d even venture to say that the apparent ease with which pragmatism handles moral progress constitutes a significant argument in favour of pragmatism about the normative more broadly.
Ethics as a matter of social coordination, progress as local problem resolution, the associated metaethical quietism, etc. all contribute to make this view immune to many famous concerns, e.g., teleology, access to moral facts, changing standards.
Responds very well to commentators, but needs to give better account of how the view handles false-consciousness.

[Vince · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed Kitcher's The Ethical Project, even if it was an act of endurance to finish it. I had hoped to find this shorter book more approachable. I do appreciate that in this text he evolves and refines some of his core ideas from the prior work. However, I remain unconvinced that the ethical project has an innate direction of expanding inclusion and consideration, enfranchisement if you will. I'm afraid I see human history as just one damn thing after another. Not that I have to agree with the author to finish his book, but I found it hard to come back to it. Three stars.

[Socrates · Rating 5 out of 5]

开卷惊喜是Kitcher的问题意识、讨论素材、回答思路都如此紧嵌历史- “为什么对同性恋权益的大规模讨论没能被王尔德发起？” 他不空于哲学圈里的思想实验，积极沟通学科边界。此气质也合衬他以实用主义为纲来解释道德进步，最后提出推动道德进步的切实法子。无论是不喜规范伦理学坐而论道的路子、窒息其教令，还是取径更实践更人本主义的规范伦理学，本书都是极值一读的参考。三篇批评有洞见，但无伤根本- 稍加发展即可回应。可惜K将发起道德质询的动力未有充分考量就归为黑格尔式的“追求自由”；打磨理论时考虑的经验素材类型单一，经常是身份政治，还先入为主以自由派标准定义道德进步，没有以多样例子挑战自己，后果则是理论的狭隘：若保守派反问“反对征税，是保守派追求自由而发起的道德进步”，K的理论并不蕴含一个显而易见的回应。