Why Are There “OUGHTS”?

The Nature of Moral Necessity

Stephen E. Parrish

• Publisher: Wipf and Stock
• Year: 2026
• Print ISBN:
  9798385261116
  9798385261123
• eBook ISBN:
  9798385261130
• Topic: Philosophy
• Subtopic: Ethics & Moral Philosophy

Many would agree that we live in a world of decaying morality, in an age with much disagreement about fundamental moral issues. Debates surge over matters such as abortion, euthanasia, sexual issues, the proper role of government, and so on. The disputes are never ending. Agreement is difficult because there is no common ground on the very nature and existence of morality. Why are there OUGHTS? Who says what is right or wrong? Is there an ultimate measure for ethics? How can we know? Are there in fact moral laws that are binding on us, or are they merely constructed on the values and desires of humans? And if there are moral laws external to us, why is this true? Examining the fundamental roots of morality, this book argues that moral laws do, in fact, exist, and necessarily so. Parrish takes the readers on an extensive journey through the realm of ethical theories, and finally delivers them to the very foundation--the source--of moral laws, the why of the oughts.

Table of contents

• Title Page
• Acknowledgments
• Foreword
• Introduction
• Chapter 1: Approaching Metaethical Theory
• Chapter 2: Divisions of Metaethical Theories
• Chapter 3: Relevant Issues
• Chapter 4: Categories, the Nature of Ethics, and Beauty
• Chapter 5: Abstract Entities, Propositions, and Necessity
• Chapter 6: Antirealism
• Chapter 7: Weak Realism
• Chapter 8: Strong Realism
• Chapter 9: Some Strong Realist Theories
• Chapter 10: Theistic Antirealism, Absolute Creationism, and Theistic Conceptualism
• Chapter 11: Perfect Being Theism
• Chapter 12: The Trinity
• Chapter 13: Conclusion: The Best Reason for Ethics
• Bibliography