Meta-Ethics Flashcards
(46 cards)
What is naturalism in ethics?
The view that moral properties are natural properties, features of the physical world.
What makes naturalism a form of moral realism?
It claims moral properties exist mind-independently.
Why is Bentham’s utilitarianism considered naturalist?
Because it equates goodness with pleasure, a natural property.
What kind of property is pleasure in naturalism?
A natural property of organisms like humans and animals.
What does utilitarian naturalism claim about ethical language?
It expresses beliefs about whether pleasure was maximized.
Why is utilitarian naturalism considered cognitivist?
Because it sees ethical statements as truth-apt beliefs.
What does the statement ‘stealing is wrong’ mean in utilitarian naturalism?
It failed to maximize pleasure.
What does Bentham argue about human nature and pleasure?
That we naturally find pleasure good.
How does Mill justify happiness as good?
By claiming happiness is our sole ultimate desire.
What does Hume argue about the ‘is/ought’ gap?
That factual statements don’t entail moral ‘ought’ statements.
Why is the leap from is to ought problematic for naturalism?
It lacks rational justification.
According to Hume, where do ethical judgments come from?
From our feelings.
What does Hume’s view imply about cognitivism?
That it is false; ethical language expresses emotion.
How can naturalism respond to Hume’s criticism?
By claiming values are a type of fact.
What is the Aristotelian view on goodness?
Goodness is flourishing (eudaimonia), a natural property.
What did Foot argue about ‘ought’ and ‘need’?
‘Ought’ functions like ‘need’, e.g., children need adults.
What does MacIntyre say about modern moral concepts?
They’ve become uprooted from communal human practice.
How does Aristotelian ethics counter nihilism?
By reabsorbing ‘ought’ into ‘is’, grounding morality in facts.
What is Moore’s naturalistic fallacy?
It is a fallacy to equate natural properties with goodness.
What is Moore’s open question argument?
Any natural definition of goodness leaves the question open.
What kind of property is goodness for Moore?
A non-natural property.
What analogy does Moore use for goodness?
Like the color yellow – known intuitively.
What is intuition according to Moore?
A mental ability to access non-natural moral truths.
Is intuitionism cognitivist or non-cognitivist?
Cognitivist – ethical beliefs can be true or false.
