Terence Cuneo, “Speech and Morality: On the Metaethical Implications of Speaking” (Oxford,
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What is Terence Cuneo’s central claim about moral facts and ordinary speech acts?
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Welcome to the New Books and Philosophy channel of the New Books Network. My name is Robert Talese. I'm professor of philosophy at Vanderbilt University. I co-host the channel with Carrie Figter. Carrie is Associate Professor of Philosophy at the University of Iowa. Today, my guest is Professor Terence Cuneo. His new book is titled Speech and Morality on the Metaethical Implications of Speaking. It has just been published by Oxford University Press. Cuneo is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Vermont. It's widely accepted that in uttering sentences, we sometimes perform distinctive kinds of acts. We declare, assert, challenge, question, and corroborate by means of speech. Sometimes, we also use speech to perform acts like promising, commanding, judging, pronouncing, and even christening.
Yet it seems that, in order to perform an act of, say, promising, one must have a certain kind of normative status. At the very least, one must be accountable. Similarly, in order to issue a command, one must, in some sense, have the authority to do so. It seems, then, that the power to perform acts by means of speech depends upon the normative status and standing of speakers. In Speech and Morality, Terence Cuneo appeals to this fact in devising an original and compelling argument for moral realism. He claims that were it not for the existence of moral facts, we would not be able to perform ordinary speech acts such as promising. As we clearly do perform such acts, there must be moral facts. That's the simple argument that lies at the heart of Cuneo's fascinating book.
Let's turn to the interview. Hello, Terence Cuneo. Hi, Bob. How are you doing today?
Doing well, thanks.
Well, that's great. Thank you for joining us on New Books and Philosophy. It's my pleasure. And thank you, audience, for tuning in to New Books and Philosophy. Today I'm talking with Terence Cunio about his new book, Speech and Morality on the Metaethical Implications of Speaking. In this book, Terence develops what I think is a fascinating argument in favor of moral realism and the arguments rooted in a compelling account of speech act theory. In fact, I'd go so far as to say that this book draws surprisingly robust philosophical conclusions from what looked to me like sort of undeniable premises that is sometimes thought to be a gold standard in philosophy books. And I think this book really does a real admirable job at meeting that standard.
So there's a lot to talk about. But before we get going on the arguments, Terrence, let's begin with you. Why don't you tell us a little bit about yourself?
Sure. I was born in New York State, New Rochelle, New York. Both my parents grew up in the Bronx. I think for the most part, they were the first generation, both on my mom's side and my dad's side, to go to college.
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Chapters
8 chapters
1
What is Terence Cuneo’s central claim about moral facts and ordinary speech acts?
0:00–5:45
2
How does Cuneo use a transcendental‑style argument to support moral realism?
5:45–12:55
3
What is the “normative theory of speech” and how does it differ from traditional speech‑act accounts?
12:55–21:49
4
How does the book link speakers’ rights, responsibilities, and obligations to moral facts?
21:49–29:39
5
What dilemmas does Cuneo raise for error theorists and expressivists?
29:39–38:47
6
How does Cuneo critique constructivist accounts of moral norms?
38:47–47:42
7
What evolutionary‑debunking challenge does Cuneo address, and how does he respond?
47:42–56:48
8
What future projects does Cuneo outline after *Speech and Morality*?
56:48–1:04:47
Speakers
3 identifiedMore from New Books in Philosophy
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