Objektivität und der Unterschied zwischen Ethik und Wissenschaft

The paper is a critique of certain claims of a quasi-scientific objectivty of ethics, as they are advanced by Gerhard Ernst. Ernst’s arguments in favour of a strong similarity between science and ethics with respect e.g. to normativity and motivational force are criticised as relying on redefinitions of these terms. In addition, the weaker claim that ethics and science rely on the same objectivity guaranteeing method (in particular reflexive equilibrium and coherence), is rejected as false; in ethics there is e.g. no counterpart to observation. Finally, (1) semantic objectivism and (2) objectivism in providing guidance and during the adoption of morals are distinguished, and arguments against the latter form of objectivism are presented.