How the Ethical Controversy be solved? -With Special Reference to Stevenson's Methodology-

Stevenson made the characteristic of the moral problem clear linguistically, with modification of former ‘interest theory ’and ‘imperative theory.’ He made the distinction clear between the scientific problem and the moral one, taking into consideration the part science played. It is to his credit that the way to solve the controversy was thus shown, but it is still doutful whether all the moral problems are to be solved in this way. Of what value is this method in the present society where there is no identity of interest, assertion and thought ; and of the view of life and value among classes? His theory is based upon the trust in democrasy and upon the ground common to all the people. As he owns himself that the ethical controversy appears in the transition period of generation, his theory is valid so long as the ground upon which the view of life and value is established is common to all. Stevenson, as a method to solve the controversy, makes much of the rational method, trusting in intelligence from the standpoint that amang well-educated men there can be no moral disagreement, as Hume says. But in opposition of interest among classes or nations, this optimism fails. On such occasions, in the society Which lacks the democratic ground, the rational method does not hold good ; but what he calls ‘persuasive method’ might be used for the advertisement of a certain principle or assertion with authority. As his ‘moral problem’ implies all the conducts of purpose, his theory may by effective as a method to regulate the human relation in every day life, but with regard to the fundamental problem of the meaning or value of life, this method is of no use, unless he is regardless of such a metaphisical problem. In short, his method is interesting in presenting the practical way to make an opinion or assertion understood in the society in which people stand on the ground common to all