Intuitionism

Question 1

Main points

Answer 1

• Moral truths are known through our gut feeling
• We can’t define words such as ‘good’ we just know what they mean intuitively
• intuition helps us understand basic moral truths

Question 2

Moore

Answer 2

‘good is good’ and that is the end of it’
- Moore argued that there are simple and complex ideas
Complex:
“Horse” can be broken down into horse, mammal etc
Simple:
“Yellow” we can’t break it down any further
- Moral truths are simple
- We all have the natural ability to recognise moral truths
- Every is born with moral intuition ‘you just know’

Question 3

Pritchard

Answer 3

• Developed the theory of intuitionism
• The word ‘ought’ cannot be clearly defined - we just recognise it when we see it
• Once our intuition tells us what we ought to do it becomes our duty to do it

Prichard distinguished between two types of thinking:
a) general thinking - looks at the facts of a situation
b) moral thinking - decides what to do
Example - Euthanasia
- he recognised that some will have a clearer moral intuition (maybe developed through education)

Question 4

Ross

Answer 4

• Moral truths are self evident and can be known through intuition
• he rejected utilitarianism and any other theories that rely on a single principle to determine right and wrong
• Prima Facie duties - moral obligations e.g. justice, gratitude, self improvement etc

Question 5

Strengths

Answer 5

• No God is needed
• We recognise the wrongness of many actions
• Everyone has a conscience and intuition

Question 6

Weaknesses

Answer 6

• How can we be sure that our intuition is correct?
• People reason to different conclusions
• Non verifiable - could be seen as meaningless