The Second-Person Standpoint and the Normative Question

Abstract

In this paper I explore Darwall’s view of the second-person standpoint. My research question is: Does Darwall’s second-person standpoint provide an account of why agents should be moral? In order to answer this question I will first give an account of Darwall’s theory and how Darwall tries to answer the normative question. Next I will show how Darwall’s answer to the normative question fails and why his theory cannot but fail to answer the normative question. Lastly, I will argue for a revised form of Darwall’s second-person standpoint that does provide an answer to the normative question.