Abstract

This thesis explores moral particularism--ethical theories that acknowledge the importance of complex, contextual detail in moral reasoning and judgment. The first four chapters four chapters analyze the work of five theorists who can be classified as particularists: Marilyn Friedman , Peter Winch and Margaret Urban Walker , Michael Oakeshott and Martha Minow . Chapter 5 explains how moral particularism emerges as a practical and normative critique of what I call judicial theories of moral judgment. I also argue that particularist theories of reasoning and judgment rest on a different moral foundation than judicial theories do. Particularists value particulars of various kinds, and this shapes and guides moral reasoning, constraining and justifying particular moral judgments without reference to universal rules or principles. Implications for the practice of particular moral reasoning and judgment are explored in Chapters 5 and 6. A particularist moral method should emphasize an agent's personal experience and engagement in a problematic situation , but must be interpersonal as well, reflecting understanding and respect for others as particular persons . Chapter 7 explores political implications of particularist moral theories, and argues that an inclusive, participatory, conversational model of moral deliberation is best suited to achieve the particularists' moral and political objectives. Chapter 8 briefly surveys and evaluates some possible problems with this model of moral reasoning and judgment