Department Talk: Neil Sinhababu

"From Moral Twin Earth to
Pleasure in Eden"
 

Abstract: Moral Twin Earth cases involve humans meeting aliens and disagreeing about moral questions. The causal theory of reference often used by naturalistic moral realists entails that such disagreement is impossible. To avoid this bad result, I invoke the experientialist analysis of moral concepts, on which they apply to objective properties represented by feelings like guilt, horror, and admiration. Combined with a new theory of reference based on empathy, the experientialist analysis accounts for interplanetary disagreement and entails ethical hedonism.

Neil Sinhababu is an associate professor at National University of Singapore.