Title : Communication in Adopting Moral Norms

Author(s) : Pavel Slutskiy

Pages : 90-108

Abstract in English : There is a seemingly unbridgeable gap
between descriptive statements of moral
philosophy (ethics) and prescriptive
statements of moral norms. The gap can
be avoided by introducing a praxeological
explanation of the utilitarian meaning of
moral norms which treats them as manmade
devices utilized for creating social
circumstances that reflect universal
subjective value preferences of members of
society. The universally shared subjective
preference not to be acted upon against
ones consent is the reason for adopting a
moral norm that prohibits such actions.
Adoption of this norm is believed to result
in things beneficial to human well-being.
As soon as people realize that a norm is in
accord with their subjective preferences,
the norm becomes adopted by society and
internalized by individuals via the
communication that sustains it. Along with
its internalization the universal norm can
take a particular shape contained in
background assumptions. The means
utilized to ensure that a moral norm is
obeyed is the creation of enforcement
mechanisms that develop a system of
punishments for violating the norm, which
then gives way to the development of
morally legitimate legal and political
systems.