David Enoch (philosopher)

David Enoch is a contemporary philosopher known for his work in metaethics, political philosophy, and jurisprudence. He is a Professor of Philosophy at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

Enoch's most notable contributions are in the area of moral realism, where he defends the view that moral truths are objective and independent of our beliefs and practices. He is a prominent advocate of robust moral realism, arguing that moral facts exist in a way that is analogous to facts in other domains, such as science. He has developed sophisticated arguments to counter challenges to moral realism, including arguments from moral disagreement, queerness, and explanatory redundancy.

In political philosophy, Enoch has written extensively on topics such as the justification of political authority, the nature of rights, and the relationship between morality and law. His work often explores the implications of moral realism for political theory. He defends a broadly liberal political philosophy, but one that is grounded in objective moral principles rather than more relativistic or subjectivist accounts.

Enoch's work in jurisprudence focuses on the relationship between law and morality. He argues against legal positivism, which holds that the validity of law is independent of its moral content. He contends that law is necessarily connected to morality, and that the justification and interpretation of legal rules often depend on moral considerations. He has explored the implications of this view for legal interpretation, constitutional law, and the philosophy of punishment.

Enoch's publications include the book Taking Morality Seriously: A Defense of Robust Realism (Oxford University Press, 2011), which is considered a major contribution to contemporary metaethics. He has also published numerous articles in leading philosophy journals.

His work is characterized by rigorous argumentation, careful attention to detail, and a commitment to exploring the implications of his philosophical views for practical issues. He is a highly influential figure in contemporary moral and political philosophy.