Moral Legitimacy — APS Publishing Platform

Definition

Moral Legitimacy concerns whether actions, norms, institutions, practices, policies, or forms of organisation are morally justified.

In Brief

Moral Legitimacy concerns whether organised conduct can be justified rather than merely explained, accepted, effective, lawful, or persistent.

APS distinguishes Moral Legitimacy from viability, persistence, popularity, legality, authority, success, consensus, and social stability.

A practice may persist while remaining morally objectionable. A law may be legally valid while lacking moral legitimacy. An institution may be stable, effective, or widely accepted without being morally justified.

Moral Evaluation investigates these questions by examining standing, vulnerability, treatment, responsibility, affectedness, justification, and legitimacy.

Viability ≠ Moral Legitimacy

Persistence ≠ Moral Legitimacy

Consensus ≠ Moral Legitimacy

Moral Legitimacy therefore concerns whether organised conduct can be justified rather than merely explained.

Referenced By

From Significance to Morality: The Social Architecture of APS Article Draft