Supervisors info:
Φίλλιπος Βασιλόγιαννης, Αναπληρωτής Καθηγητής, Νομική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Βασίλειος Βουτσάκης Επίκουρος Καθηγητής, Νομική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Νικόλαος Παπασπήρου Επίκουρος Καθηγητής, Νομική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Summary:
This essay, is concerned with the prospects of what Rawls called “the method of reflective equilibrium” to justify our moral beliefs. I will argue that Socratic Elenchus, the method that Socrates used in the search for moral knowledge, the method that we all use, more or less, to examine our moral views, coincides after proper reflection, with the method that today seems to be the most prominent among moral philosophers, and that it is a good way indeed, in order to make up one's mind about any moral issue. In order to do this, I will have to defend the method of reflective equilibrium against some objections (like the charge that the impecable application of the method might well lead to unreasonable views, or the charge that it is too conservative), that challenge my thesis, and either have not, I believe, been satisfactorilly refuted (like the first), or in some other way serve the aims of this essay (like the second).
Keywords:
socratic, elenchus, reflective, equilibrium, justification