Moral Philosophy or The Sociology of Morals? Response to Cansu Canca

Authors

  • Gil Eyal Department of Sociology, Columbia University http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7194-3864

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.6092/issn.1971-8853/11477

Keywords:

Trolley Problem, Moral Reasoning, Frames, Risk Assessment, Retroaction

Abstract

I make three points in my response. I begin by pointing out the differences between the sociological and philosophical approaches to moral questions. The sociologist is interested in the trolley problem as a frame, and in the rhetorical power it generates. Second, I reject the claim that I am forcing the debate into a binary choice. Instead, I show the similarity between the model of moral reasoning Canca advocates and risk assessment, noting the well-known limitations of risk assessment. Finally, I reject the claim that I make moral arguments without engaging in principled moral reasoning, and instead explain the sociological method of comparison and relativization upon which I draw.

References

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Published

2020-09-18

How to Cite

Eyal, G. (2020). Moral Philosophy or The Sociology of Morals? Response to Cansu Canca. Sociologica, 14(2), 83–91. https://doi.org/10.6092/issn.1971-8853/11477

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Section

Comments on Essays