Moral Realism and The Foundations of Ethics
David O. Brink
I noted this unusual term, i.e. Esoteric Morality:
Here is a summary from AI[wR] on what is Esoteric Morality:
AI wrote:In David Brink's discussion of "Esoteric Morality" in "Moral Realism and the Foundation of Ethics," he explores the idea that the truth of a moral theory and the value of accepting or publicizing that theory might not always align.
Here's a simplified breakdown of the key points:
1. Distinction Between Truth and Acceptance/Publicity Value:
o For some claims, particularly non-moral ones, there's a clear distinction between their truth and the value of accepting or publicizing them.
o Realists can easily make this distinction because they believe that the truth of a claim is independent of whether it is accepted or publicized.
o Antirealists struggle with this distinction because they often tie the truth of a claim to its acceptance value.
2. Application to Ethics:
o Brink suggests we can similarly distinguish between the truth of a moral theory and the desirability of accepting or publicizing that theory.
o There might be situations where it's undesirable to publicize a true moral theory.
3. Esoteric Morality:
o An esoteric morality is a moral theory that is true but is only understood or accepted by a small, specialized group.
o Brink explores whether there could be situations where it is better for the general public not to know or accept a true moral theory.
o For example, utilitarianism (the idea that the best action is the one that maximizes overall happiness) might suggest that people shouldn't always use utilitarian reasoning in their daily lives.
4. Utilitarianism and Esoteric Morality:
o Utilitarian theorists like Mill and Sidgwick have argued that people might achieve the best utilitarian outcomes by following common-sense moral rules rather than always applying the principle of utility directly.
o This suggests that utilitarianism could be considered an esoteric morality if, under certain conditions, maximizing happiness requires people to believe in and follow a different moral system.
5. Implications for Realism and Antirealism:
o Realists can accept the idea of esoteric morality because they can distinguish between the truth of a moral theory and its acceptance value.
o Antirealists, especially non-cognitivists (who deny the existence of moral truths), find it harder to accommodate esoteric morality because they equate moral truth with acceptance or motivational value.
In essence, esoteric morality refers to the notion that a true moral theory might not always be desirable for widespread acceptance or use. Realists can easily accept this idea, while it poses challenges for antirealists.
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