One of your best pieces, no doubt. That hunger analogy is very powerful. I take it there is no relevant empirical literature to follow up on regarding this specific line of argument?
Great article. I especially liked the cultural and sociological explanations of philosophy selecting for moral realists. I do wonder though, since religion has been widespread, if there is a deeper biological explanation of how and why we project our attitudes out onto the world. It may be adaptively time-saving to perceive a threat as vicious, and little use in us perceiving our reaction to a threat, which isn't necessary to respond to it.
I believe you have a typo at the end: "the field of psychology may host a psychologically unrepresentative" -- I believe you meant "the field of philosophy..."
One of your best pieces, no doubt. That hunger analogy is very powerful. I take it there is no relevant empirical literature to follow up on regarding this specific line of argument?
Not to my knowledge. Not many people study experimental metaethics and most of those who have done so have moved on.
Great article. I especially liked the cultural and sociological explanations of philosophy selecting for moral realists. I do wonder though, since religion has been widespread, if there is a deeper biological explanation of how and why we project our attitudes out onto the world. It may be adaptively time-saving to perceive a threat as vicious, and little use in us perceiving our reaction to a threat, which isn't necessary to respond to it.
I believe you have a typo at the end: "the field of psychology may host a psychologically unrepresentative" -- I believe you meant "the field of philosophy..."