The expression "to constitute the basis for"

Hi,

Yes, seems fine to me. Alternatives might include '... forms the basis for ...', '...is the basis for...'.

In terms of grammatical sentence balance, you might consider using 'confidence in / denial of' or 'having confidence in / denying'. I prefer the former.

Best wishes, Clive

Hi Clive,

So in that case, should I say "is the basis for the denial of..."?

Sextus

Hi,

So in that case, should I say "is the basis for the denial of..."?

"Confidence in science is the basis for (the) denial of the existence of moral values".

I think you could say either. The definite article makes it more, well, definite or specific. 'No article' makes it a little more general. Personally

Now I'm very used to not using the definite article as much as I do in Spanish. Furthermore, I think that English has had some negative influence upon my Spanish in this respect.

I'll give you an example which surprised me:

"Here the moral scepticism rests crucially on the confidence that there is such a viewpoint."

Yes, one would say that the author (a native speaker) w

Hi Sextus,

Yes, it's a bit subtle, and I can see how Spanish would interfere with your English a bit, and vice-versa. I find that teaching English, and looking at it from students' points of view, occasionally causes me small difficulties with my own English!

Clive

Sextus"is the basis for the denial of..."

I like this one, considering some of your other posts on the subject.

Hello Sextus

What is the context for the sentence? It may make a difference.

MrP

The context is the following:

"However, this is only apparent, since in closing her discussion of the local character of contemporary ethical skepticism, she points out that this skepticism “is essentially local, a part of a globally unsceptical world-view which is likely to be scientifically based…”. Annas does not think, then, that only confidence in science is the basis for the

My opinion, which may be of only marginal value next to MrP's, who you are probably addressing here (though I've also thrown my hat into the ring on the question) is this: I'd suggest either, is the basis for the denial of, or, is the basis for denying', but not, is the basis for denial of'..

No, I'd agree. Maybe:

"Annas does not think, then, that the only basis for denying the existence of objective moral values is [confidence in science]."

"Confidence in science" doesn't quite seem to convey the meaning, though. It seems to require "confidence in the X of science".

But what is X?

MrP