Journal for Critical Animal Studies, Volume VIII, Issue 1/2, 2010 (ISSN1948-352X)
apply and in what manner. Irrelevant facts often need to be considered too in order to rule them out as irrelevant, at least for the time being, after due consideration. This paper emphasizes general principles, although the crucial relevance of particular facts could be illustrated using any number of case studies, and are also involved in the next value.
(4) Pragmatic efficiency. We can forge a useful distinction between extreme and moderate pragmatism. Traditional philosophy is hardly pragmatic at all in being simply concerned with being good, virtuous, just, and doing one‘s duty. Nonpragmatist philosophers do not necessarily require being effective in a scientific manner. An extreme pragmatist only adopts ideals that ―work,‖ but this could mean anything, including Nazism and what most effectively realizes its ―ideals.‖ Moderate pragmatism does not leave the norms of ethics entirely to whatever happens to be expedient, but at the same time, is concerned not just with rationally defending ideals, but also empirically verifying when ideals are (best) met. Part of normative sociology determines what is normative by studying and experimenting with what is most efficient, or what causes and conditions (or variables) are most conducive to particular ends. Such sociological studies are crucial for guiding us. The goods of best caring sociology—things involving pleasure and pain, and desire-satisfaction and frustration—can be measured to some extent. Techniques, technologies and policies can all be evaluated for effectiveness. Also, ideal forms of life are often unavailable and we must resolve dilemmas, manage scarce goods/resources, and mediate among unavoidable harms and risks.
A pragmatic approach is key in such cases.
Pragmatism is America‘s chief contribution to philosophy and sociology, but its extreme form certainly does not safeguard liberation in any way.
Pragmatist
sociology dominates in North America, and more theoretical approaches are more prominent in Europe, but there is no need for just one or the other—on the contrary. Now ethical relativists can be extreme pragmatists, but their efficiency studies can help to promote egregious practices, for example, and so are not necessarily desirable.
(5)
Anti-oppression.
Many sociologists are opposed to oppression, but ethical
relativism equally privileges oppressive views so long as they are believed. Best caring is unequivocally anti-racist, anti-sexist, anti-speciesist, anti-homophobic, antibiphobic, anti-transphobic, anti-ableist, anti-ageist, and so on. 157
It is also anti-