Moral Norms and Sanctions

(Eva Buddeberg/Achim Vesper)

Moral norms are generally seen as having primacy over norms of other kinds.  This primacy is based on the assumption that moral norms override other types of norms, such as juridical, cultural, or aesthetic norms in cases of conflict.  Nevertheless, there are different understandings concerning the question of what accounts for moral norms’ authority.  While some philosophers defend the view that the source of the moral “ought” is justification by reason, other philosophers suggest that “ought-ness” is brought about by means of sanctions.  Consequently, it is controversial whether the primacy of moral norms is due to reason independent of sanctions or if it is due to the strength of the sanctions that accompany moral norms.

For positions that trace the existence of moral norms to sanctions, the distinction between internal and external sanctions is crucial.  External sanctions consist in punishment and reward, accomplished through social instruments; inner sanctions, which can help explain moral behavior when violations are not perceived and punished by others, are characterized by feelings of guilt and the loss of self-respect.  However, fundamental objections are raised against a conception of morality based on either kind of sanction.  According to the rival model, moral obligation comes about by means of features of reasons.  Indicative of this position is the fact that moral demands are addressed not only to conscience but also to reason.

Samstag, 24.10.
IG Farben-Gebäude 254

14.00-14.45 Uhr    
Julia Hermann (Florenz): Die Praxis als Quelle des moralischen Sollens

14.45-15.30 Uhr   
Michael Kühler (Konstanz): „Might makes right“. Zur unzureichenden Möglichkeit, in einer Theorie sanktionskonstituierter moralischer Normativität zwischen legitimer und illegitimer Sanktionierung unterscheiden zu können

15.30-15.45 Uhr   
Kaffeepause

15.45-16.30 Uhr   
Norbert Anwander (Berlin): The Duality of Moral Norms. Reasons for Actions and Reasons for Sanctions

16.30-17.15 Uhr   
Michael von Grundherr (München): Notwendigkeit und Nötigung: Zum Zusammenspiel von Rechtfertigung und Sanktionen

Sonntag, 25.10.
IG Farben-Gebäude 254

9.00-9.45 Uhr   
Karl Christoph Reinmuth (Greifswald): Zum begrifflichen und argumentativen Zusammenhang zwischen Regeln und Sanktionen

9.45-10.30 Uhr   
Frank Brosow (Mainz): Wie sanktioniert man Selbstmordattentäter?

10.30-10.45 Uhr   
Kaffeepause

10.45-11.30 Uhr   
Florian Zimmermann (Konstanz): Normexistenz und Normdurchsetzung

11.30-12.15 Uhr   
Mario Brandhorst (Göttingen): Morality, Obligation and Reasons for Action

12.15-13.00 Uhr  
Mittagspause

13.00-13.45 Uhr   
Lisa Herzog (Oxford): Die Entstehung moralischer Normen in Smiths Theorie des unparteiischen Beobachters

13.45-14.30 Uhr   
Otmar Kastner (Wien): Moralische Normen und ihre Rechtfertigung

14.30-14.45 Uhr   
Kaffeepause

14.45-15.30 Uhr   
Jan Renker (Freiburg): Normen, normative Ordnungen und ihre Geltungsgründe im lebensweltlichen Vollzug sowie in philosophischer Reflexion

15.30-16.15 Uhr   
Andras Szigeti (Budapest): The Value of Responsibility