What is Constructivism in Ethics and Metaethics?

What is Constructivism in Ethics and Metaethics? introduces and explores the constructivist approach to moral philosophy. Street examines core questions about the nature and foundations of moral truth, value, and normativity through a constructivist lens. The book analyzes key constructivist arguments and compares them to competing moral realist and antirealist views. Street engages with major philosophers in the field while developing her own neo-Kantian version of constructivism about practical reason and value. The work moves through central topics including practical reason, moral truth, objectivity, and the relationship between moral realism and constructivism. Street addresses challenges to constructivism and defends it as a viable metaethical framework. This text represents an important contribution to metaethical theory, offering a systematic examination of constructivism's role in grounding moral truth and normativity. The constructivist approach provides a distinct path between moral realism and relativism.

There are not enough internet reviews to create a summary of this book. Instead, here is a summary of reviews of Sharon Street's overall work: Sharon Street's academic work generates discussion primarily among philosophy scholars and graduate students rather than general readers, as she publishes in academic journals rather than books for public audiences. Readers appreciate: - Clear writing style that makes complex philosophical arguments accessible - Integration of evolutionary science with moral philosophy - Strong logic in challenging traditional moral realism - Practical examples that illustrate abstract concepts Common critiques: - Arguments can become highly technical and dense - Some find the implications of evolutionary debunking too skeptical - Limited engagement with religious perspectives on morality Her papers are frequently cited in academic contexts but don't have traditional consumer reviews on sites like Goodreads or Amazon. The 2006 "Darwinian Dilemma" paper has been cited over 1,000 times according to Google Scholar. Philosophy forums and blogs show active discussion of her ideas, with graduate students often praising the clarity of her writing compared to other contemporary philosophers.

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Ethics: Inventing Right and Wrong by J. L. Mackie This text presents the error theory of morality and examines the metaphysical status of moral properties.

The Evolution of Morality by Richard Joyce The book explores the biological and evolutionary origins of human moral judgments and their implications for moral realism.

Creating the Kingdom of Ends by Christine Korsgaard A systematic investigation of constructivism in ethics through the lens of Kantian philosophy.

The Sources of Normativity by Christine Korsgaard This work examines the foundations of moral obligations and develops a theory of ethical constructivism based on practical reason.

🔸 Sharon Street developed her influential "Darwinian Dilemma" argument while still a graduate student at Harvard, challenging how evolutionary forces shaped our moral beliefs and questioning traditional moral realism. 🔸 Constructivism in ethics traces its roots to Immanuel Kant's idea that moral truths depend on rational reflection rather than existing as independent facts about the world. 🔸 The book examines how moral values might be "constructed" through a process of practical reasoning, similar to how we construct mathematical truths through logical procedures. 🔸 Street's work bridges evolutionary biology and moral philosophy, suggesting that our moral beliefs evolved primarily to help our ancestors survive rather than to track moral truth. 🔸 Unlike earlier constructivists, Street argues for a more radical "Humean constructivism" that grounds moral truth in our subjective attitudes rather than universal rational requirements.