Models in Ethics and the Philosophy of Ethics

Abstract In this article, I pursue two main goals. First, I emphasise the importance of considering philosophy of science as a helpful framework to improve normative theorising. Briefly put, I defend the transfer of insights from the philosophy of science specifically to ethics. Second, I discuss one well-studied area within the philosophy of science, the use of models, to improve the way normative theorising is done. In short, models in ethics ought to be devised for clearly established purposes. I illustrate these ideas with historical examples and by purposefully modelling a representative device for deciding public policy issues.