meta-ethics non-cognitivism. aims to explain non-cognitivism to explain non-cognitivism to analyse...

Meta-EthicsMeta-Ethics

Non-CognitivismNon-Cognitivism

AimsAims

To explain non-cognitivismTo explain non-cognitivism To analyse and discuss the non-To analyse and discuss the non-

cognitive theories of emotivism cognitive theories of emotivism and prescripitivismand prescripitivism

Viewpoints within Meta-Viewpoints within Meta-EthicsEthics

Anti-realists Anti-realists believe that ‘facts’ about believe that ‘facts’ about morality are just facts about us – we create morality are just facts about us – we create moralitymorality

Non-cognitivistsNon-cognitivists –moral statements are –moral statements are subjective and only appear to be like factual subjective and only appear to be like factual statements. Actually they are disguised statements. Actually they are disguised commands, or expressions of preferencecommands, or expressions of preference– E.g. ‘Abortion is wrong’E.g. ‘Abortion is wrong’– For a non-cognitivist this statement expresses an For a non-cognitivist this statement expresses an

opinion which might be true for some people but opinion which might be true for some people but false for others false for others

TaskTask

Using your booklets, make a Using your booklets, make a poster of the key ideas in Meta-poster of the key ideas in Meta-EthicsEthics

Meta-Ethics

Cognitivism Non-Cognitivism

EmotivismPrescriptivismNaturalism Intuitionism

The study of ethical concepts, such as right and The study of ethical concepts, such as right and wrong, good and bad, and of sentences that use wrong, good and bad, and of sentences that use these concepts these concepts


This philosopher believed that we can know moral This philosopher believed that we can know moral facts using our intuition. He said that "facts using our intuition. He said that "goodnessgoodness is is a simple, undefinable, non-natural a simple, undefinable, non-natural propertyproperty""



A non-cognitive theory associated with A. J. Ayer A non-cognitive theory associated with A. J. Ayer and Charles Stevensonand Charles Stevenson




There are objective moral facts and real moral There are objective moral facts and real moral properties and we can know them using our properties and we can know them using our knowledge of the worldknowledge of the world


This philosopher believed that we can know moral This philosopher believed that we can know moral facts using our intuition. He said that "facts using our intuition. He said that "goodnessgoodness is is a simple, undefinable, non-natural propertya simple, undefinable, non-natural property""



Moral judgements are about facts. They can be Moral judgements are about facts. They can be proved or disproved by looking at evidenceproved or disproved by looking at evidence


This philosopher believed that we can know moral This philosopher believed that we can know moral facts using our intuition. He said that "facts using our intuition. He said that "goodness is goodness is a simple, undefinable, non-natural propertya simple, undefinable, non-natural property""




Moral judgements are about feelings. Moral Moral judgements are about feelings. Moral statements express desires, tastes or opinionsstatements express desires, tastes or opinions


This philosopher believed that we can know moral This philosopher believed that we can know moral facts using our intuition. He said that "facts using our intuition. He said that "goodness is goodness is a simple, undefinable, non-natural propertya simple, undefinable, non-natural property""




Moral judgements are about feelings. Moral Moral judgements are about feelings. Moral statements express desires, tastes or opinionsstatements express desires, tastes or opinions

There are objective moral facts and real moral There are objective moral facts and real moral properties and we can know them through intuitionproperties and we can know them through intuition

Meta-EthicsMeta-Ethics

EmotivismEmotivism

NaturalismNaturalism

CognitivismCognitivism

G. E. MooreG. E. Moore

Non-Non-CognitivismCognitivism

IntuitionismIntuitionism

Emotivism – A J AyerEmotivism – A J Ayer

Moral statements express our emotions about Moral statements express our emotions about a particular issuea particular issue

‘‘Stealing is wrong’ = ‘I disapprove of stealing’Stealing is wrong’ = ‘I disapprove of stealing’ This is often called the ‘Boo-Hurrah’ theory of This is often called the ‘Boo-Hurrah’ theory of

ethics - We say ‘boo’ to what we don’t like and ethics - We say ‘boo’ to what we don’t like and ‘hurrah’ to what we do like‘hurrah’ to what we do like

Emotivism does not tell us how to live a moral Emotivism does not tell us how to live a moral life; instead it helps us understand that moral life; instead it helps us understand that moral statements are intended to guide actions and statements are intended to guide actions and convey attitudesconvey attitudes

Criticism of AyerCriticism of Ayer

Emotivism reveals how the ethical Emotivism reveals how the ethical statements we make depend on statements we make depend on our attitudes, upbringing and our attitudes, upbringing and feelings, but this can lead to the feelings, but this can lead to the idea that there are no moral facts idea that there are no moral facts ((simple subjectivismsimple subjectivism))

Emotivism – C L Emotivism – C L Stevenson Stevenson

Ethics and LanguageEthics and Language (1944) gives a more (1944) gives a more detailed version of Emotivismdetailed version of Emotivism

Moral terms are both descriptive and Moral terms are both descriptive and emotiveemotive

Ethical statements are attitudes based on Ethical statements are attitudes based on beliefs about the world – so ethical beliefs about the world – so ethical disagreements are disagreements about disagreements are disagreements about fundamental principlesfundamental principles

They are attempts to influence the views They are attempts to influence the views of othersof others

They are subjective opinionsThey are subjective opinions

WeaknessesWeaknesses

Feelings and preferences can change Feelings and preferences can change from day to day. However, ethical from day to day. However, ethical statements do not change daily. Does it statements do not change daily. Does it make sense to say that yesterday make sense to say that yesterday stealing was wrong but today it is OK? stealing was wrong but today it is OK?

Surely some opinions and feelings are Surely some opinions and feelings are less valid than others?less valid than others?

According to James Rachels, moral According to James Rachels, moral judgements are not just expressions of judgements are not just expressions of feeling – they are also appeals to feeling – they are also appeals to reasonreason

Universal Universal PrescriptivismPrescriptivism

Ethical statements are commandsEthical statements are commands When we say, ‘don’t bully people’ we are When we say, ‘don’t bully people’ we are

not just expressing a personal not just expressing a personal preference. We are instructing people preference. We are instructing people not to do thisnot to do this

When we say someone else ought to do When we say someone else ought to do something we should also be willing to something we should also be willing to do it ourselvesdo it ourselves

If we think that something should be If we think that something should be done to someone else, we have to accept done to someone else, we have to accept the possibility that the same thing could the possibility that the same thing could be done to usbe done to us

Weaknesses Weaknesses

It does not help us to understand why It does not help us to understand why we should follow one person’s we should follow one person’s prescriptions rather than another’sprescriptions rather than another’s

It reduces ‘ought’ statements to It reduces ‘ought’ statements to universalisable prescriptions, thereby universalisable prescriptions, thereby getting rid of the idea that ethical getting rid of the idea that ethical statements can be expressions of truthstatements can be expressions of truth

It could justify the universalisation of It could justify the universalisation of immoral actionsimmoral actions

Summary of Meta-Summary of Meta-Ethics Ethics

NaturalistsNaturalists believe that it is possible to believe that it is possible to establish moral facts by looking at evidence establish moral facts by looking at evidence and drawing logical conclusionsand drawing logical conclusions

IntuitionistsIntuitionists believe that it is possible to believe that it is possible to establish moral facts by using our intuition establish moral facts by using our intuition about right and wrongabout right and wrong

EmotivistsEmotivists believe that moral statements believe that moral statements express the opinions of the speaker but do express the opinions of the speaker but do not have any objective factual valuenot have any objective factual value

PrescriptivistsPrescriptivists believe that moral believe that moral statements prescribe actions or make statements prescribe actions or make commandscommands

HomeworkHomework

– a) Explain what is meant by a) Explain what is meant by Meta-Ethics (33)Meta-Ethics (33)

– b) ‘ “Good’’ always means the b) ‘ “Good’’ always means the same thing.’ Discuss (17)same thing.’ Discuss (17)

meta-ethics non-cognitivism. aims to explain non-cognitivism to explain non-cognitivism to analyse...

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