What is Quasi-Realism in Philosophy

Quasi-realism is a philosophical approach that seeks to reconcile realism and anti-realism in relation to certain domains of discourse, such as ethics. This theory was developed by British philosopher Simon Blackburn in the 1980s and has been the subject of debate and discussion ever since. In this glossary, we will explore in detail the concept of quasi-realism, its main characteristics and how it relates to other philosophical theories.

Origins and Development of Quasi-Realism

Quasi-realism emerged as a response to debates between realists and anti-realists in moral philosophy. While realists defend the existence of objective moral facts independent of our beliefs and attitudes, antirealists argue that moral statements do not have an objective basis and are merely expressions of emotions or subjective preferences. Blackburn, in developing quasi-realism, sought to find a middle ground between these extreme positions.

Main Features of Quasi-Realism

Quasi-realism has some distinctive characteristics that differentiate it from other philosophical theories. One of the main features is the idea that moral claims can be treated as if they were true, even if there are no objective moral facts. This means that we can act as if our moral beliefs are true, even though there is no objective basis for those beliefs.

Another important feature of quasi-realism is the emphasis on moral language as a form of expression of attitudes and emotions. According to this theory, when we make moral statements, we are expressing our attitudes and emotions in relation to certain actions or situations. These statements are not true or false in the traditional sense, but they have a pragmatic meaning and can influence our behaviors.

Relationship to Other Philosophical Theories

Quasi-realism has often been compared and contrasted with other philosophical theories such as emotivism and expressivism. Emotivism, for example, argues that moral statements are just expressions of emotions and do not have cognitive content. Expressivism argues that moral statements are expressions of attitudes and emotions, but they can also have cognitive content.

While quasi-realism shares some similarities with these theories, it also presents significant differences. While emotivism denies the existence of objective moral facts, quasi-realism allows us to treat moral claims as if they were true, even if there are no objective moral facts. Expressivism, although it shares the emphasis on the expression of attitudes and emotions, does not allow us to treat moral statements as if they were true.

Criticisms and Debates Around Quasi-Realism

Just like any philosophical theory, quasi-realism has also been the target of criticism and debate. One of the main criticisms is that this approach fails to solve the problem of the foundation of moral judgments. If there are no objective moral facts, how can we justify our moral beliefs and attitudes?

Another common criticism is that quasi-realism can lead to moral relativism, as it allows each individual to treat their own moral beliefs as if they were true, regardless of whether there is a consensus about those beliefs. This can lead to a lack of objective criteria for evaluating the morality of actions.

Applications of Quasi-Realism

Quasi-realism has been applied in several areas of philosophy, in addition to ethics. For example, this approach has also been used in the philosophy of language, the philosophy of mind, and the philosophy of science. In each of these areas, quasi-realism seeks to reconcile extreme positions and find a middle ground that takes into account both the objective and subjective aspects of these domains of discourse.

Conclusion

In short, quasi-realism is a philosophical approach that seeks to reconcile realism and anti-realism in relation to certain domains of discourse, such as ethics. This theory argues that we can treat moral statements as if they were true, even if there are no objective moral facts. Although it has been the target of criticism and debate, quasi-realism has been applied in several areas of philosophy, contributing to the understanding and development of these fields of study.