The Descriptive-Normative Dichotomy and the So Called Naturalistic Fallacy

Abstract: Investigating the genesis and justification of norms in a theoretical way requires a clear-cut distinction between normative and descriptive discourse. From a philosophical perspective, the descriptive-normative dichotomy can itself be understood either in a descriptive (or ‘reportive’) or in an normative (or ‘stipulative’) way. In the first case such a dichotomy is understood as the factual border between descriptive and normative discourse in a given language; exploring this border is a hermeneutic enterprise. In the other case it is understood as a boundary between descriptive and normative discourse to be implanted in a language which is developed in order to fit certain purposes, in particular theoretical purposes; this implanting procedure is a matter of regimentation. In this paper I will deal shortly with the first question of hermeneutics and then in more detail with the second question of regimentation. In the final part of the paper I will distinguish different types of naturalistic fallacies resulting from disregarding descriptive-normative dichotomies.

Object Details

• Location: Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Frankfurt am Main
• Extent: Online-Ressource
• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: The Descriptive-Normative Dichotomy and the So Called Naturalistic Fallacy ; volume:38 ; number:2 ; year:2016 ; pages:317-338 ; extent:22 ; Analyse & Kritik ; 38, Heft 2 (2016), 317-338 (gesamt 22)

Contributors, Places and Time

• Creator: Morscher, Edgar

Further information

• DOI: 10.1515/auk-2016-0116
• URN: urn:nbn:de:101:1-2023120713170147402007
• Rights: Open Access; Der Zugriff auf das Objekt ist unbeschränkt möglich.
• Last update: 15.08.2025, 7:36 AM CEST