Moral Theorizing and the Unreliability of Particular Intuitions: Shifting Towards the Theoretical Approach and Rational Intuitions

Abstract

In this thesis, I argue that approaches to moral theorizing that rely on or permit us to privilege our particular intuitions—including classical intuitionism, reflective equilibrium, and even contemporary intuitionism—are problematic. These approaches are problematic because not only do we lack justification for relying on or privileging our particular intuitions, but also research conducted by Joshua Greene provides reason to believe that our particular intuitions are unreliable. After demonstrating the unreliability of our particular intuitions and the approaches to moral theorizing that rely on or permit us to privilege them, I conclude with a defense of the Theoretical Approach and the rational intuitions on which consequentialism is founded.