Abstract

This dissertation is an attempt to examine the limits and possibilities of recent ethical theories and to define the task of ethics. It embarks on a critical assessment of recent theoretical developments in the field of post-metaphysical ethics, focusing primarily on three approaches: liberal rationalism, communitarianism, and postmodernism. These approaches not only represent the most prominent positions in the contemporary ethical discourse, but also frame the theoretical horizon of contemporary discourse on ethics. ;Adopting a strategy of reconstruction, this study attempts to elaborate the themes and limitations of each approach by analyzing its most representative thinkers. First, this study examines John Rawls's "political liberalism" and Jurgen Habermas's "discourse ethics," which attempt to justify liberal ideals of autonomy, equal liberty, and mutual respect by reformulating Kantian moral constructivism to vindicate the value of liberal constitutionalism. Second, it deals with Alasdair MacIntyre, Charles Taylor, and Michael Walzer who elaborate both a theoretical strategy and a political vision for overcoming the problems of liberalism in theory and practice. They affirm contextualism and give priority to the interpretation of shared meanings over philosophical justification, either appealing to a revitalization of tradition or emphasizing a participatory politics. Finally, it examines Jacques Derrida's ethical reading of deconstruction and Richard Rorty's pragmatic postmodernism which represent a suspicion toward positive or absolutist formulation of ethical principles. Deconstructing traditional metanarratives, they attempt to create new discourses and a new sense of responsibility focusing on the notion of ambiguity and irony. ;Discussing these three approaches, I intend to identify the sources of limitations and suggest a proper way to define the task of ethics. The main thesis is that ethics defined as a mediation between concrete social analyses and political practices can overcome indeterminacy of philosophical discourse and help us articulate irreducible ideals and practical criteria.