Moral claims not only purport to be true,
they also purport to guide our choices. This study presents a theory of
normative judgment - the "standard-based theory" - which offers a schematic
account of the truth conditions of normative propositions of all kinds,
including moral propositions and propositions about reasons. The heart of Copp's
approach to moral propositions is a theory of the circumstances under which
corresponding moral standards qualify as justified, the "society-centered
theory." He argues that because any society needs a social moral code in order
to enable its members to live together successfully, and because it would be
rational for a society to choose such a code, certain moral codes, and the
standards they include, are justified. According to the standard-based theory
then, if certain moral standards are indeed justified, corresponding moral
propositions may be true. Copp's approach to morality and explaining normativity
and the truth conditions of moral claims, raises a number of important issues in
moral theory, as well as in metaphysics and the philosophy of language
