PHIL 440: Study Questions on Korsgaard, Chapter 2, "Reflective Endorsement"

In this chapter, Korsgaard discusses several writers who employ a test of reflective endorsement. In each case, pay close attention to what the test is, because that will help us to try to figure out what Korsgaard thinks reflexive endorsement is.

1. What is Hume's distinction between theoretical and practical philosophy?

2. What are the two kinds of reflective endorsement tests that Hume applies to our moral sentiments? Hume thinks that morality passes both tests and Korsgaard seems to agree. Why do they think that morality passes both tests? Is this correct? Consider the objection of the "sensible knave" and Hume's answer to that objection.

3. What is the reflexivity test? How is it related to the test of reflexive endorsement?

4. Williams is a realist about science but not about ethics. The reason is that he thinks that, on reflection, we understand our scientific theories as ways of getting closer to the way the world really is. This is the absolute conception of the world, understood as the way the world is, independent of our perspective on it. He thinks that all inquirers, even those with very different cognitive apparatus, would be expected to converge in their absolute conception of the world. But in ethics, Williams thinks that reflection destroys knowledge. Thus, Williams gives a negative answer to the realist question ("Is there normative truth?"). However, Korsgaard interprets him as holding out a positive answer to the normative question. Why does Korsgaard think that Williams gives a positive answer to the normative question? We will want to evaluate that answer also.

5. What is Korsgaard's discussion of "masculine" and "feminine" intended to show?

6. Mill identifies two kinds of moral sanctions, internal and external. What are they? Explain why either kind can be "artificial".

7. What does Mill mean by "the dissolving force of analysis"(82)? What is "the ultimate sanction of the greatest happiness morality"?

8. Why does Korsgaard think that Mill misses his target? Is she correct?

9. What is the example of the "knavish lawyer"(88-89) supposed to show?