Moral particularism, aquinas, and the problem of context-dependence : a formal solution to a material puzzle.

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dc.contributor.advisorHibbs, Thomas S.
dc.contributor.advisorDavis, Darin H.
dc.contributor.authorEchelbarger, David T.
dc.contributor.departmentPhilosophy.en_US
dc.contributor.schoolsBaylor University. Dept. of Philosophy.en_US
dc.date.accessioned2014-09-05T13:34:20Z
dc.date.available2014-09-05T13:34:20Z
dc.date.copyright2014-08
dc.date.issued2014-09-05
dc.description.abstractThis dissertation is a historically informed response to what I call the problem of context-dependence. The problem of context-dependence is a problem for moral philosophy that stems from the fact that the rightness or wrongness of an action seems to be dependent upon the context in which it occurs. Moral particularists, such as Jonathan Dancy, use he context-dependence of rightness and wrongness to cast doubt upon our ability to formulate universally true moral principles. I contend that this is troublesome because if it is true that moral principles might not apply to all cases, then worries arise about our ability to understand and rationally navigate the moral domain. In response to this concern, I argue that it is possible to solve the problem of context-dependence by retrieving a neglected understanding of the structure of morality from Thomas Aquinas—namely his view that each instance of right and wrong is a composite of formal and material elements. I maintain that this distinction allows Aquinas to embrace the variability of right and wrong acts at the material level, while maintaining that all right actions share the same general form. In turn, the notion that right and wrong actions are made right by intelligible universal forms restores confidence in our ability to articulate and defend moral principles.en_US
dc.description.degreePh.D.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2104/9156
dc.language.isoen_USen_US
dc.publisheren
dc.rightsBaylor University theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. Contact librarywebmaster@baylor.edu for inquiries about permission.en_US
dc.rights.accessrightsWorldwide access.en_US
dc.rights.accessrightsAccess changed 12/11/19.
dc.subjectEthics.en_US
dc.subjectEthical theory.en_US
dc.subjectMoral particularism.en_US
dc.subjectMoral principles.en_US
dc.subjectMoral rules.en_US
dc.subjectMoral concepts.en_US
dc.subjectThomas Aquinas.en_US
dc.subjectForm and matter.en_US
dc.subjectKovesi, Julius.en_US
dc.titleMoral particularism, aquinas, and the problem of context-dependence : a formal solution to a material puzzle.en_US
dc.typeThesisen_US

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