Elaboration of a critical-rationalist ethics

Despite the growing interest in the practical philosophy of critical rationalism, a closer look at the status of international research reveals that a systematic and comprehensive, differentiated and consistent conception of a critical-rationalist ethics is still missing. The aim of this project is to make a contribution to close this gap. The project starts with a comprehensive analysis and reconstruction of key components of a critical-rationalist ethics. This reconstruction on the meta-ethical, descriptive and normative level is based on a review of the relevant parts of the work of Karl R. Popper as well as contributions of other critical-rationalist authors. It has to take into account also critical-rationalist theories from other disciplines, such as epistemology, philosophy of science, social and political philosophy and philosophical anthropology as well as selected positions and arguments from the general debate in ethics. Main topics to be addressed in the first part of the project are: the concept of critical dualism with its cultural theoretical and philosophical implications, questions concerning the justification of the critical-rationalist position, ethical consequentialism as a basic component of a critical-rationalist ethics, the relation of the method of critical discussion and regulative principles, the consequences of plurality for ethics and the critical-rational position in contrast to ethical relativism, the moral autonomy of the individual as a key concept in critical rationalism, the link between freedom and responsibility in a complex and socially interrelated world, and the values and virtues that can be found in a critical-rationalist ethics. The second part of the project is dedicated to the elaboration of a systematic, comprehensive and consistent critical- rationalist ethical conception. For this, it is necessary to develop further the reconstructed components of the first part of the project and integrate new perspectives. In addition to issues dealt with in the first part, other relevant research topics for a critical-rationalist ethical conception are: the status of moral statements in relation to their truth ability in comparison to scientific theories, the close connection between a critical-rationalist ethical conception and the method of trial and error, the interpretation of moral standards and norms as undogmatic problem-solving proposals, the possibilities and limits of cross-cultural interpretation and evaluation of moral systems and standards, the development and possible corroboration of moral standards, convergences and divergences to evolutionary ethics, and a possible rehabilitation of naturalism. Special consideration will be given throughout the course of the project to the search for contributions of such a conception for current debates in ethics, such as: its intermediate position between absolutism and relativism, the relationship between a consequentialist-teleological orientation and some deontological aspects, its problem- solving orientation, and its connection to the unity of rationality in theory and practice allowing an interdisciplinary approach.

Despite the growing interest in the practical philosophy of critical rationalism, a closer look at the status of international research reveals that a systematic and comprehensive, differentiated and consistent conception of a critical-rationalist ethics is still missing. The aim of this project is to make a contribution to close this gap. The project starts with a comprehensive analysis and reconstruction of key components of a critical-rationalist ethics. This reconstruction on the meta-ethical, descriptive and normative level is based on a review of the relevant parts of the work of Karl R. Popper as well as contributions of other critical-rationalist authors. It has to take into account also critical-rationalist theories from other disciplines, such as epistemology, philosophy of science, social and political philosophy and philosophical anthropology as well as selected positions and arguments from the general debate in ethics. Main topics to be addressed in the first part of the project are: the concept of critical dualism with its cultural theoretical and philosophical implications, questions concerning the justification of the critical-rationalist position, ethical consequentialism as a basic component of a critical-rationalist ethics, the relation of the method of critical discussion and regulative principles, the consequences of plurality for ethics and the critical-rational position in contrast to ethical relativism, the moral autonomy of the individual as a key concept in critical rationalism, the link between freedom and responsibility in a complex and socially interrelated world, and the values and virtues that can be found in a critical-rationalist ethics. The second part of the project is dedicated to the elaboration of a systematic, comprehensive and consistent critical- rationalist ethical conception. For this, it is necessary to develop further the reconstructed components of the first part of the project and integrate new perspectives. In addition to issues dealt with in the first part, other relevant research topics for a critical-rationalist ethical conception are: the status of moral statements in relation to their truth ability in comparison to scientific theories, the close connection between a critical-rationalist ethical conception and the method of trial and error, the interpretation of moral standards and norms as undogmatic problem-solving proposals, the possibilities and limits of cross-cultural interpretation and evaluation of moral systems and standards, the development and possible corroboration of moral standards, convergences and divergences to evolutionary ethics, and a possible rehabilitation of naturalism. Special consideration will be given throughout the course of the project to the search for contributions of such a conception for current debates in ethics, such as: its intermediate position between absolutism and relativism, the relationship between a consequentialist-teleological orientation and some deontological aspects, its problem-solving orientation, and its connection to the unity of rationality in theory and practice allowing an interdisciplinary approach.