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Value Grounded on Attitudes. Subjectivism in Value Theory

Fritzson, Fritz-Anton LU (2014)
Abstract
The thesis examines a specific way of understanding the subjectivist position in value theory according to which subjectivism is the view that value is grounded on attitudes. It is argued that this should be seen as a second-order claim about the nature of value although with pluralistic implications on the substantial, first-order level. Subjectivist analyses of final and intrinsic value and of relational value (goodness-for) are offered. Further, the implications of subjectivism are considered with respect to, among other things, situations in which we would have different attitudes than those that we actually have, the relation between value and motivation, and value relativism and egoism. The thesis also contains discussions of value... (More)
The thesis examines a specific way of understanding the subjectivist position in value theory according to which subjectivism is the view that value is grounded on attitudes. It is argued that this should be seen as a second-order claim about the nature of value although with pluralistic implications on the substantial, first-order level. Subjectivist analyses of final and intrinsic value and of relational value (goodness-for) are offered. Further, the implications of subjectivism are considered with respect to, among other things, situations in which we would have different attitudes than those that we actually have, the relation between value and motivation, and value relativism and egoism. The thesis also contains discussions of value projection and the nature of evaluative language. (Less)
Abstract (Swedish)
Popular Abstract in English

Does subjectivism in value theory — the view that value is grounded on attitudes — imply that when we think and talk about what is good and bad we must necessarily be thinking and talking about our desires and other attitudes? Does value subjectivism entail that evaluative utterances are reports or expressions of the speaker’s attitude? Are subjectivists committed to an axiology according to which only preference satisfaction is valuable for its own sake? Are subjectivists disqualified from talking about intrinsic value? Is it a consequence of subjectivism that if we had different attitudes than those that we in fact have different things would be valuable? Is subjectivism a view on which things... (More)
Popular Abstract in English

Does subjectivism in value theory — the view that value is grounded on attitudes — imply that when we think and talk about what is good and bad we must necessarily be thinking and talking about our desires and other attitudes? Does value subjectivism entail that evaluative utterances are reports or expressions of the speaker’s attitude? Are subjectivists committed to an axiology according to which only preference satisfaction is valuable for its own sake? Are subjectivists disqualified from talking about intrinsic value? Is it a consequence of subjectivism that if we had different attitudes than those that we in fact have different things would be valuable? Is subjectivism a view on which things can be good or bad only by being good or bad for particular people? Are subjectivists committed to objectionable forms of relativism or egoism? Is every form of idealization of attitudes in tension with the spirit of subjectivism? Is subjectivism a bleak view on which nothing matters?



In Value Grounded on Attitudes – Subjectivism in Value Theory, Fritz-Anton Fritzson defends subjectivist views against some common objections and offers a sympathetic formulation of value subjectivism. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
supervisor
opponent
  • Associate Professor Heuer, Ulrike, University of Leeds, England
organization
publishing date
type
Thesis
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Subjectivism, objectivism, relativism, absolutism, value and attitudes, supervenience and constitutive ground of value, final value, intrinsic value, good and good for, motivational internalism, idealization, value projection, error and evaluative language
pages
228 pages
publisher
Lund University (Media-Tryck)
defense location
C126, LUX, Helgonavägen 3, Lund
defense date
2014-09-13 10:15:00
ISBN
978-91-7473-994-7
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
3acaa910-94be-424b-aea4-a68620a85dc5 (old id 4584279)
date added to LUP
2016-04-04 10:16:59
date last changed
2018-11-21 20:57:52
@phdthesis{3acaa910-94be-424b-aea4-a68620a85dc5,
  abstract     = {{The thesis examines a specific way of understanding the subjectivist position in value theory according to which subjectivism is the view that value is grounded on attitudes. It is argued that this should be seen as a second-order claim about the nature of value although with pluralistic implications on the substantial, first-order level. Subjectivist analyses of final and intrinsic value and of relational value (goodness-for) are offered. Further, the implications of subjectivism are considered with respect to, among other things, situations in which we would have different attitudes than those that we actually have, the relation between value and motivation, and value relativism and egoism. The thesis also contains discussions of value projection and the nature of evaluative language.}},
  author       = {{Fritzson, Fritz-Anton}},
  isbn         = {{978-91-7473-994-7}},
  keywords     = {{Subjectivism; objectivism; relativism; absolutism; value and attitudes; supervenience and constitutive ground of value; final value; intrinsic value; good and good for; motivational internalism; idealization; value projection; error and evaluative language}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Lund University (Media-Tryck)}},
  school       = {{Lund University}},
  title        = {{Value Grounded on Attitudes. Subjectivism in Value Theory}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/5504239/4584288.pdf}},
  year         = {{2014}},
}