Meta Ethics

Question 1

‘Good’ is best explained by naturalism.’ Discuss. [40]

Answer 1

Firstly, ‘Good’ is not best explained by naturalism as it mistakenly
argues that values can be defined in terms of some NATURAL
PROPERTY in the world.
Secondly, ‘Good’ is not best explained by naturalism as it mistakenly
claims that ONE CAN GET AN ‘IS’ FROM AN ‘OUGHT’.
Finally, ‘Good’ is not best explained by naturalism as it is a MORAL
REALIST, COGNITIVIST approach and therefore mistakenly argues
that ethical terms are MEANINGFUL.

Question 2

‘Good’ is best explained by intuitionism.’ Discuss. [40]

Answer 2

Firstly, while ‘Good’ is not best explained by intuitionism, G.E. Moore is correct to argue that GOOD CANNOT BE DEFINED, a mistake made by naturalists.
Secondly, despite being superior to naturalism, ‘Good’ is not best explained by
intuitionism, as arguing that moral truths are ‘SELF-EVIDENT’ and that we ‘JUST KNOW’what is right and wrong ultimately resembles an EMOTIVIST perspective, where moral statements are merely expressions of approval or disapproval.
Finally, ‘Good’ is not best explained by intuitionism as it is a MORAL REALIST,
COGNITIVIST approach and therefore mistakenly argues that ethical terms are
MEANINGFUL.

Question 3

‘Good is best explained by emotivism.’ Discuss. [40]

Answer 3

Firstly, emotivism provides a BETTER explanation of ‘good’ than NATURALISM,
which falls victim to HUME’S IS-OUGHT FALLACY.
Secondly, emotivism provides a BETTER explanation of ‘good’ than naturalism and intuitionism, as there are various reasons to support its MORAL ANTI-REALIST stance and the idea that moral statements are factually meaningless (NON-COGNITIVE).
Finally, although emotivism provides a better explanation of ‘good’ than naturalism and intuitionism, it is not the best approach as is it UNDERMINED BY A.J. AYER’S USE OF THE WEAK VERIFICATION PRINCIPLE to justify his view that ethical statements are meaningless.

Question 4

“Good” is meaningful.’ Discuss. [40]

Answer 4

Para 1 - Naturalism fails to defend the claim that good is meaningful because it is a natural property in the world.
Para 2 - Intuitionism fails to defend the claim that good is meaningful because it is self-evident.
Para 3 - It is clear that moral truths do not exist (moral anti-realism) and moral statements are non-cognitive, therefore good is meaningless.

Question 5

Assess the view that good, bad, right and wrong are meaningless ethical terms. [40]

Answer 5

Firstly, emotivism provides a BETTER explanation of ethical terms than NATURALISM, which falls victim to HUME’S IS-OUGHT FALLACY.
Secondly, emotivism provides a BETTER explanation of ethical terms than naturalism and intuitionism, as there are various reasons to support its MORAL ANTI-REALIST stance and the idea that moral statements are factually meaningless (NON-COGNITIVE).
Finally, although emotivism provides a better explanation of ethical terms than naturalism and intuitionism, it is not the best approach as is it UNDERMINED BY A.J. AYER’S USE OF THE WEAK VERIFICATION PRINCIPLE to justify his view that ethical statements are meaningless.

Question 6

‘Good is the defining question in the study of ethics.’ Discuss. [40]

Answer 6

Firstly, NATURALISTS may support the view that ‘GOOD’ IS THE DEFINING
QUESTION, as it is through defining good as a natural property that WEIGHT IS
GIVEN TO NORMATIVE ETHICAL THEORIES such as Aquinas’ natural law theory
and Bentham and Mill’s utilitarianism. HOWEVER, this view is SIGNIFICANTLY
UNDERMINED by G.E. Moore’s NATURALISTIC FALLACY AND OPEN QUESTION
ARGUMENT.
Secondly, G.E. MOORE’S INTUITIONISM may suggest that the discussion of ‘GOOD’ IS NOT THE DEFINING QUESTION in the study of ethics, as “GOOD IS GOOD”, indefinable yet self-evident. HOWEVER, the idea that we possess a MORAL INTUITION IS WEAK.
Finally, if one accepts WITTGENSTEIN’S belief that PHILOSOPHICAL PROBLEMS arise when we do not consider how our language is used, the arguments in support of moral anti-realism and non-cognitivism ought to be considered.
HOWEVER, while the discussion of the meaning of ethical terms such as ‘good’ is the defining question philosophically, ultimately ETHICS OUGHT TO BE PRACTICAL. Therefore, greater consideration should be given to NORMATIVE AND APPLIED ETHICS