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The role of examples in moral philosophy

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Abstract

Contemporary moral philosophy for the most part relegates examples to a negative role, as counter-examples. In this essay a view is articulated according to which the example has a much more positive and more fundamental role to play in the argumentation of moral philosophy: according to this view, examples may provide grounding for general moral principles. Some of the philosophical implications or presuppositions of such a view of examples are examined.

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Brinton, A. The role of examples in moral philosophy. Argumentation 2, 209–220 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00178022

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00178022

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