Abstract:

Our main objective in this study is to study the ethical understanding of the famous logicist empirist philosopher Hans Reichenbach. Reichenbach explains his moral view in a way that is consistent with the design of "Scientific Philosophy". This understanding suggests that philosophy can only be built on a scientific basis, and that neither metaphysics nor any other concept can be the source of philosophy beyond science. According to this conception, which assumes that nothing except the scientific does not have knowledge value, judgments on metaphysics, religion or aesthetics, primarily ethics, cannot have a cognitive meaning. Reichenbach criticizes Sokrates, Platon, Baruch Spinoza, and especially Immanuel Kant, trying to create their moral opinions on a conscious basis and asks the question: What kind of judgment are ethical expressions that do not have a conscious basis? Reichenbach claims that ethical judgments are formally an order, and in its essence a manifestation of our demands. The main purpose of these judgments is not to provide us with information about a fact situation, but to guide our behaviors and shape our social life. The main source of these commandments is the essence itself. Individually, everyone can create moral commandments and may ask others to follow them. But in order not to get confused, individuals must discuss their moral orders in a democratic environment and reach a social consensus. In other words, the moral rules can be determined by a social consensus that will occur with the active participation of everyone. On the other hand, Reichenbach is not only trying to develop an ethical theory, but also trying to bring a solution to the problem of free will, which is an important problem in the ethical philosophy. The indeterminism, which is engaged in the agenda along with quantum physics, claims that it provides the necessary possibilities to overcome this problem and proves it. Finally, Reichenbach explains that his main objective is to analyze the nature of the morality, believing that the philosopher should not reveal the moral rules, but simply make logical analyses of the structure and source of the morality and conduct an investigation on it. In this context, Reichenbach’s ethical understanding is generally considered to be evaluated in the category of non-cognitive theories in the meta-ethics.

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Abstract:

The main purpose of this study is to examine the ethical thought of the logical empiricist philosopher Hans Reichenbach. He introduces his ethical theory in accordance with the conception of “Scientific Philosophy”. This comprehension assumes that philosophy is constructed on a scientific basis, and that except for science, neither metaphysics nor any other concept can be the source of philosophy. According to this understanding, statements of metaphysics, ethics, religion, or aesthetics cannot have cognitive meaning. For this reason, Reichenbach criticizes Socrates, Plato, Baruch Spinoza, and especially Immanuel Kant, who try to base their moral views on cognitive foundations and asks this question: What is the structure of ethical statements? Reichenbach argues that ethical judgments are imperatives and express our volition. The fundamental objective of moral imperatives is not to provide sense content about the matter of facts but to guide our behaviours and shape our social life. The main source of these imperatives is the subject himself or herself. Reichenbach states that individualistically, everybody is free to form their moral imperatives and asks others to abide by them. However, to avoid confusion individuals should discuss their moral directives in a democratic atmosphere and reach social agreements. Put another way, it is possible to achieve moral directives through social agreements in which everybody actively participates. Reichenbach not only develops an ethical theory but also attempts to propose a solution to the problem of free will. He asserts that indeterminism, which comes into prominence with the quantum physics, provides important opportunities to overcome this problem. Finally, his main goal is analyze the nature of morality. According to him, the philosopher must not set up moral rules but investigate the structure and source of ethics by making logical analyzes. When examined at large, it should be stated that Reichenbach’s ethical thought is included in the category of non-cognitive theories in meta-ethics.