The Moral Problem

In The Moral Problem, philosopher Michael Andrew Smith presents a systematic examination of moral realism and its core challenges. The book focuses on reconciling three seemingly incompatible ideas in moral philosophy: moral objectivity, moral motivation, and the Humean theory of motivation. Smith constructs his argument through careful analysis of moral beliefs, practical rationality, and the nature of moral judgments. His defense of moral realism addresses fundamental questions about how moral facts relate to human psychology and behavior. The work engages with major philosophical traditions and contemporary debates in metaethics, drawing from both analytic philosophy and moral psychology. The text builds its case through structured argumentation and detailed responses to key objections. This influential contribution to moral philosophy offers insights into the relationship between reason, motivation, and ethical truth. The work stands as a significant attempt to bridge the gap between moral facts and human action while maintaining a realist framework.

Readers describe the book as a systematic examination of moral realism and motivation. Students and academics note its clear explanations of complex metaethical concepts and thorough engagement with opposing views. Liked: - Clear structure and methodical arguments - Detailed treatment of Humean theory of motivation - Strong analysis of moral facts and moral psychology - Useful for graduate-level ethics courses Disliked: - Dense writing style requires multiple readings - Technical language challenges undergraduate readers - Some find the solutions unsatisfying or incomplete - Middle chapters lose focus, according to multiple reviews Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (48 ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (12 ratings) Notable reader comments: "Excellent formulation of moral realism though the solution feels rushed" - Goodreads "Clear roadmap through key debates but gets bogged down in technical details" - Amazon "Required endurance to complete but worth it for serious ethics students" - PhilPapers

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🔹 The book sparked significant debate upon its 1994 release for its novel solution to "the moral problem" - the apparent conflict between moral objectivity and motivation. 🔹 Michael Smith was awarded the American Philosophical Association's Book Prize for The Moral Problem in 1994-95, marking it as a seminal work in contemporary moral philosophy. 🔹 The work builds on and challenges David Hume's influential view that moral beliefs alone cannot motivate action without the presence of independent desires. 🔹 Smith developed his theory while at Monash University in Australia, where he became one of the country's most internationally recognized philosophers. 🔹 The book's core argument for "moral realism" has influenced subsequent debates about whether moral facts exist independently of what any individual or culture believes.