Ethical Language

Question 1

overview

Answer 1

• ethical language is how we define and understand moral statements

Question 2

cognitivism

Answer 2

• moral statements are facts (objective/subjective)

Question 3

non-cognitivism

Answer 3

• moral statements express feelings or commands (not true/false)
• instead, they express emotions, attitudes or prescriptions

Question 4

ethical naturalism

Answer 4

• moral truths exist in the natural world and can be discovered like scientific facts naturally
• f.h bradley: morality comes from our social role
• criticisms: moore’s naturalistic fallacy, hume’s is-ought problem

Question 5

ethical non-naturalism

Answer 5

• moral truths exist but can’t be observed like physical facts
• g.e moore - intuitionism: we “know” what is good, like how we colours
• w.d ross - prima facie duties: some moral rules (e.g honesty) are obvious

Question 6

criticisms of ethical non-naturalism

Answer 6

• different people have different intuitions - whose moral instinct is correct
• no proof that moral truths exist outside human thought

Question 7

emotivism

Answer 7

• moral statements are not objective truths but expressions of emotional attitidues or feelings
• a.j ayer - ‘boo-hurruh theory’: saying stealing is wrong is like saying boo stealing

Question 8

criticisms of emotivism

Answer 8

• doesnt explain moral reasoning - of morality is just feelingsm why do we debate it?
• no moral progress - if slavery is subjective, how do we say slavery was wrong?