Critical Analysis of Flanagan's Moral Naturalism

In the article “Naturalization of Morality”, Flanagan explains a kind of moral naturalism and considers the most sensible kind of moral naturalism to be neo-compatibilism. According to this kind of naturalism, free will is compatible with determinism, but this is not in conflict with the moral responsibility; however, it is along with a kind of scientific determinism. In his article, Flanagan responds to Hume and Moore's critique of moral naturalism. He does not shy away from his desired moral naturalism leading to a kind of relativism and nihilism; because in any case, he considers value and goodness to be related to humans and their ecology. The present study first reports on the nature of moral naturalism in Flanagan’s thought. In the following, the cases of strengthening and criticizing Flanagan’s point of view by Casebeer, Ruse, and Railton will be discussed. Finally, ontological, epistemological, and motivational criticisms, as well as criticisms aimed at accepting relativism and moral nihilism on the nature of naturalism considered by Flanagan will be presented.

Keywords:

Flanagan , Moral Naturalism , Free will , determinism