Term

Naturalistic Ethics

Any theory that seeks to reduce ethical concepts to those of a natural science, such as psychology, biology, or sociology.

Filed underPhilosophy

Definition

Any theory which seeks to reduce all ethical concepts to concepts of a natural science, usually psychology, but sometimes biology and sociology.

Connections

Follow this entry through the Lexicon.

Contrasted with

Sources

  1. 1.Childress, James F., and John Macquarrie, ed. The Westminster Dictionary of Christian Ethics. (Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1986). 415Original citation: Childress, James F., and John Macquarrie, eds. The Westminster Dictionary of Christian Ethics. Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1986, 415.

Last revised August 14, 2026