The hideous strength of ethical naturalism: whether the arguments of C. S. Lewis are to stop Joshua Green’s trolley

Annotation

The scientist neurophysiologist, philosopher, and influential proponent of modern ethical naturalism, utilitarian Joshua David Green, seeks to prove that the utilitarian way of solving moral issues is justified. Green, like many scientists and philosophers who support him, is convinced that the moral weight of a decision should be determined by comparing alternatives: a weightier alternative is morally justified. To confirm this thesis, Green turns to a thought experiment known as the trolley dilemma and performs a number of neurophysiological studies of its participants. Green believes that a naturalistic interpretation of the dilemma’s answers supports a utilitarian solution that justifies the death of one innocent person in order to save five. Despite the apparent novelty of Green, his arguments were largely anticipated and reasonably challenged by the critic of ethical naturalism and proponent of value realism Clive S. Lewis.

Keywords

morality, ethics, ethical naturalism, value, norm, nihilism, utilitarianism, Non-cognitivism, C. S. Lewis, Joshua Green.

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