To what extent are the subjects of our thoughts and talk real? This is the question of realism. In this book, Justin Clarke-Doane explores arguments for and against moral realism and mathematical realism, how they interact, and what they can tell us about areas of philosophical interest more generally. He argues that, contrary to widespread belief, our mathematical beliefs have no better claim to being self-evident or provable than our moral beliefs. Nor do our
mathematical beliefs have better claim to being empirically justified than our moral beliefs. It is also incorrect that reflection on the "genealogy" of our moral beliefs establishes a lack of parity
between the cases. In general, if one is a moral antirealist on the basis of epistemological considerations, then one ought to be a mathematical antirealist as well. And, yet, Clarke-Doane shows that moral realism and mathematical realism do not stand or fall together -- and for a surprising reason. Moral questions, insofar as they are practical, are objective in a sense that mathematical questions are not. Moreover, the sense in which they are objective can be explained only by assuming
practical anti-realism. One upshot of the discussion is that the concepts of realism and objectivity, which are widely identified, are actually in tension. Another is that the objective questions in the
neighborhood of questions of logic, modality, grounding, and nature are practical questions too. Practical philosophy should, therefore, take center stage.
Industry Reviews
Review from previous edition Morality and Mathematics is an outstanding achievement and will be a standard point of reference for future work on the topics of which it treats. * Hallvard Lillehammer, International Journal for the Study of Skepticism *
Clarke-Doane ... brings remarkable expertise and ... research to [this project]. The main argument [is] copiously defended in this lucid but highly technical treatise. ... Underlying [the argument] is the important distinction between realism and objectivity. * Sheila Mason, CHOICE *
Clarke-Doane's book offers a coherent and plausible set of answers to the notorious epistemological questions provoked by morality, and to the analogous questions that are provoked by mathematics. It is striking for its creativity, its rigorous arguments, its many subtle but important distinctions, its unusual breadth of expertise (covering the philosophy of language, metaphysics, epistemology, philosophy of mathematics, and meta-ethics), and its rational control of a daunting battery of interacting considerations from these various branches of the subject. Exceptionally impressive philosophical talent and maturity are on display here. Needless to say, we probably haven't yet been given the final truth about these matters. But it's certain that anyone aiming to do better will have to grapple with Clarke-Doane's formidable arguments and conclusions. * Paul Horwich, New York University *
Justin Clarke-Doane raises fascinating and important issues about evolutionary debunking arguments. He argues that insofar as our knowledge of the evolutionary origins of morality poses a challenge for moral realism, exactly similar difficulties will arise for mathematical realism. * Matthew Braddock, Andreas Mogensen, and Walter Sinnott-Armstrong, PEASoup *
Clarke-Doane's overarching metaphilosophical conclusion ... is ... that across a large range of philosophical debates ... the real philosophical questions are not metaphysical ... but practical, about which concepts to use. ... [W]e are left with a purely practical question of which framework to pick, which cannot itself be justified by appeal to more normativity. ...[P]erhaps a monist response can be afforded via an adaptation of Quine's response to Carnap. ... But whether or not this response ... can be made to fly, Clarke-Doane's achievement ... is substantial. ... [I]ncreased specialization makes serious engagement across subfields of philosophy a challenge. Morality and Mathematics rises to this challenge, and will serve as a springboard to further serious engagement across the subdisciplines * Mary Leng, Mind *
This excellent book ... compares morality and mathematics. Their similarities and differences are not what one might naively supposee, as the author demonstrates. The book is highly recommended to philosophers interested in both subjects, and to anyone who seeks a global understanding of how morality and mathematics fit into our belief system. ... The idea that practical questions alone resist deflation in the face of pluralist ... realism ... facilitated by the tension between realism and objectivity ... mak[es] ... for a rather striking metaphilosophical vision. * Michael Bevan & Alexander Paseau, Philosophia Mathematica *
In this brilliantly original book, Justin Clarke-Doane ... has upended many long-held views on morality and mathematics. ... Accept it or reject it, it manifests Clarke-Doane's extraordinary combination of philosophical imagination and logical skill, and what I have discussed in this review is only a small sample of the philosophical gold to be found in his book. * David Gordon, Philosophical Quarterly *
