The Normative Web: An Argument for Moral Realism By Terence Cuneo

摘要

In this excellent, clearly written, and clear sighted book, Terence Cuneo defends moralnrealism from a variety of different attacks. Cuneo is particularly interested in thencharge that the moral facts that realists posit are suspect because they are unnaturalnand queer. He addresses a number of arguments against realism, not least Mackie’snArgument from Queerness. What makes the book distinctive is its strategy. Cuneo isnkeen to show that moral facts and epistemic facts are very similar, if not inseparablynintertwined in many cases, and to argue that we should not find moral realism oddnsince we do not find epistemic realism odd. Indeed, towards the start he begins withna number of quotations from those who have cast doubt on moral realism, includingnMackie, who themselves point out that there could be parallels between the moral andnepistemic cases, but who do not pursue those parallels to any great degree. Cuneonaims to fill this gap, and to do so in favour of the realist. I agree entirely with Cuneo’snconclusions and find his arguments impressive. Hence, all I do in this short reviewnis summarize.