From punishment to universalism. (28th May 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rose, David; Nichols, Shaun
• Is Part Of: Mind & language. Volume 34:Number 1(2019:Feb.)
• Page Start: 59
• Page End: 72
• Publication Date: 2018-05-28
• Subjects: debunking -- folk meta‐ethics -- punishment -- universalism; Psycholinguistics -- Periodicals; Thought and thinking -- Periodicals; Language and languages -- Philosophy -- Periodicals; 153.42
• DOI: 10.1111/mila.12191
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0268-1064

Abstract

Abstract : Many philosophers have claimed that the folk endorse moral universalism. But while some empirical evidence supports the claim that the folk endorse moral universalism, this work has uncovered intra‐domain differences in folk judgments of moral universalism. In light of all this, our question is: why do the folk endorse moral universalism? Our hypothesis is that folk judgments of moral universalism are generated in part by a desire to punish. We present evidence supporting this across three studies. On the basis of this, we argue for a debunking explanation of folk judgments of moral universalism.