Constitutivism Explained

Constitutivism is the position in meta-ethics which links what we ought to do morally with the rules about our make up as agents who perform actions of any kind.^[1] It claims to answer doubts about the validity of moral judgements, and about moral objectivity, by explaining that we cannot help but act, therefore we act in accordance with moral rules which are essential to any acting being.

Although a recent development in moral philosophy, it has its roots in the work of Kant in moral philosophy.

Some authors in constitutivism

Christine Korsgaard^[2] and David Velleman^[3] are prominent writers on constitutivism, although defending different versions.

Criticism

Constitutivism has been criticised for various reasons, chiefly for circularity. It is claimed that it presupposes the truth of what it seeks to justify, i.e. moral judgements and truths.^{[4] [5]}

Notes and References

1. Ferrero, Luca (2009). Constitutivism and the Inescapability of Agency. Oxford Studies in Metaethics 4:303-333.
2. Korsgaard, C.M., 2008, The Constitution of Agency, Oxford: Oxford University Press.
3. Velleman, D., 2009, How We Get Along, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
4. Enoch, D., 2006, “Agency, Shmagency: Why Normativity Won't Come from What is Constitutive of Agency,” Philosophical Review, 115: 169–198.
5. Silverstein, M., 2012 Inescapability And Normativity Journal of Ethics & Social Philosophy VOL. 6, No. 3 | December 2012