.The method of reflective equilibrium
This is the label applied by prominent political philosopher John Rawls to a very general method of evaluating complete ethical theories (as opposed to more particular principles). It analogizes the ways theories are accepted or rejected in ethical theory and in science.
| Candidate scientific theories | Data or observations |
|
|---|---|---|
|
Ptolemaic
Copernican |
"fit"
<=====> |
Planetary
motion |
| Candidate ethical theories | "Considered intuitions" |
|
|---|---|---|
|
Utilitarianism
Rights theories Kantian ethics Virtue theories |
"fit"
<=====> |
Human
slavery is always wrong |
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