Tiago Carneiro da Silva

In this essay, my ultimate aim is to show that the method of wide reflective equilibrium (MWRE) can be improved in a way that allows us to detect self-evident propositions in a reasonably effective way. In order to do this, I first argue that appealing to self-evidence does not have to be considered a dogmatic approach in the search for moral justification. I do this while describing characteristics of self-evidence that are worth considering in devising a moral methodology. This allows us to see how the search for self-evident propositions may be compatible with the MWRE. I then defend that the method is not as radically opposed to the appeal to self-evidence as it has commonly assumed. When doing this, I argue that the MWRE is more effective in leading us to find self-evident beliefs than one might initially expect. Finally, based on some features self-evident beliefs have, I propose that, in addition to following the steps that the MWRE requires us to follow, we should meet two further requirements in order to detect self-evident propositions in a more effective way. Furthermore, the resulting methodological proposal, I argue, can be desirable even if there happens to be no self-evident propositions.