Moral Realism and the Existence of God: Improving Parfit’s Metaethics

Can there be an objective morality without God? Derek Parfit argues that

it can and offers a theory of morality that is neither theistic nor

naturalistic. This book provides a critical assessment of Parfit’s

metaethical theory. Jakobsen identifies some problems in Parfit’s theory

• problems concerning moral normativity, the ontological status of

morality, and evolutionary influence on our moral beliefs - and argues

that theological resources can help solve them.

By showing how Parfit’s theory may be improved by the help of theology,

Jakobsen demonstrates the relevance of theology in philosophical and

metaethical debates and argues that Christian theism offers a better

explanation of morality than what Parfit’s non-naturalism does.