Logical Empiricism, Morality and Law

In the 1920s, from the Vienna Circle and other European philosophical groups, especially the Berlin Group, emerged a philosophical movement which is today known as "Logical Empiricism". The relation of this movement to ethics and philosophy of law is not without reason considered difficult. Despite their social and political commitment, Logical Empiricists have not become famous for their overwhelming interest in these issues. Yet several members of the Vienna Circle and the Berlin Group did direct their attention to these topics. These findings deserve sophisticated examination because there is sufficient reason to suppose that many of their contributions have not lost their significance. What did the Logical Empiricists contribute to the debate on morality and law? Does Logical Empiricism destroy ethics and philosophy of law? Does Logical Empiricism destroy morality and law? What can we learn from legitimate attitudes and claims of Logical Empiricism for contemporary ethics, especially applied ethics? The aim of the project is to complete and correct the common notion of Logical Empiricism in this respect in order to (1) do justice to this historical philosophical movement and (2) to satisfy a systematic interest concerning the possibilities and limitations of applied ethics. In a first step, a systematic overview and critical evaluation of the contributions of Logical Empiricists will be given. This will show which positions and approaches were held, where these did differ, and which were agreed upon based on their common philosophy. In a second step, the project will deal with the possibilities of a logical- empiricist ethics and philosophy of law on the basis of legitimate attitudes and claims of Logical Empiricism. The answers will decide on whether someone who endorses Logical Empiricism could do ethics or philosophy of law or even provide helpful and constructive work regarding morality and law. In the next step, the reproach that Logical Empiricism contributes to the breakdown of morality will be examined. Critics wanted to show an incompatibility of theory and practice. How could Logical Empiricists combine their theoretical stance and their moral engagement? In the last step, the project will rouse and contribute to a debate on the possibilities and limitations of applied ethics. Some applied ethicists are only all too willing to comply when politicians and special interest groups ask for moral judgments and advice - no matter what tasks a philosophy with intellectual integrity could offer. The project will outline what an applied ethics on the basis of legitimate attitudes and claims of Logical Empiricism could and could not offer. This at least will provide one possible theoretical framework for a critical reflection of applied ethics. The outcome could have a great effect on which tasks applied ethicists will be assigned to regarding moral matters in different professions. With this far reaching dimension, the value of this topic can hardly be overestimated.