Key Challenges Of Emotivism

Question 1

No basic moral principles can be established

Answer 1

• gives no basis why which we can establish any moral principles
• useless in practical sense because if moral principles are contingent on emotions then ethical claims would change as emotions change frequently
• therefore we can establish them

Question 2

Ethical debate becomes a pointless activity

Answer 2

• if we can’t differentiate right from wrong and only have feelings to revert to then why bother at all
• ethical debate is nothing more than trying to influence each others attitude towards moral issues
• all we’re doing is shouting our feelings into abyss

Question 3

There’s is no universal agreement that some actions are wrong

Answer 3

• if ethical claims are purely subjective, this suggests that there is no universal code, a claim that many others would dispute
• ## assumes that ethical claims are based in the response of the listener rather than the value of the claims themselves