Abstract

A critical analysis of skeptical and anti-skeptical arguments concerning the ontological and epistemological status of supervening moral properties. ;First, an evaluation of the possibility of moral properties playing a role in best explanations of observable phenomena. This is followed by an examination of the actualization of this possibility. This involves some analysis of the causal efficacy of supervening properties as well as the development of what counts as relevant data in a best explanation argument. ;Second, an examination of the use of conceptual analysis to build a realist position. This leads to the development of a set of necessary and sufficient conditions for moral properties to be practical and interesting. An examination of the existence of properties meeting these conditions leads to the surprising conclusion that practical moral properties and real moral properties are mutually exclusive. Furthermore, the set of "real" moral properties is empty whereas some properties do meet the conditions of practical moral properties