Abstract

The motivating problem of the dissertation is modern ethical skepticism. The problem of ethical skepticism is presented as it has been articulated by Alasdair MacIntyre. MacIntyre understands the problem in terms of the interminability of ethical discourse. Ethical argumentation is interminable because of the absence of consensus concerning norms. Norms function as the premises in ethical arguments. Where consensus on norms is absent, argument cannot proceed to a reasoned conclusion. Consensus concerning norms is based on the sharing of coherent ethical traditions and ways of life. This analysis suggests that the pluralism of modernity is fatal to coherent ethical agency. The dissertation explores and ultimately opposes the idea that a single, shared, coherent ethical tradition is necessary for ethical agency. ;The aim of the dissertation is to determine, at least in a general way, what kind of community, institutions or institutional arrangements within a community might provide the conditions of coherent modern ethical agency. I pursue this aim through two levels of analysis: the relationship between self and community, and the relationship between practical rationality and historical conditions. After two initial chapters, relevant work by Kant, MacIntyre, Hegel and Habermas is explored and applied. ;It is my conclusion that MacIntyre's initial insights are correct, but I argue that Habermas provides a more consistent and compelling analysis of both modernity and practical rationality. I rely on Habermas's notion of the ideal speech situation as my model of the conditions which must obtain in modernity if coherent ethical agency is to be realized. Institutionalization of the ideal speech situation will not entail the development of a new, worldwide substantive ethical community. Instead, realization of the ideal speech situation will entail a society in which multiple substantive ethical communities flourish, and a political system functions which allows conflicts among communities to be resolved in a way that can be accepted as legitimate by all. Realization of the ideal speech situation is itself conditioned upon the real possibility that all persons and all groups can participate effectively and equally in discourse. This condition would require greater economic equality and a wider scope for democracy than is currently practiced