Progress in Ethics: Out of the Ivory Tower

Abstract

How is progress in the academic discipline of ethics related to improvements in people’s ethical thoughts and behaviors? We propose that there is disciplinary ethical progress on some phenomenon to the extent that the discipline puts people in a position to increase their understanding of that phenomenon. Even though progress, thus construed, does not guarantee improved thoughts and behaviors, progressive ethical theorizing nonetheless enables these improvements. Our account thus has the resources with which to substantiate and shed light on concerns that academic work in ethics is too isolated, obtuse, or trivial.