Metaethics Flashcards
(25 cards)
What is the is/ought problem in metaethics?
It is a logical problem raised by David Hume, which argues that moral judgments (what ought to be) cannot be inferred from factual statements (what is).
How does Hume illustrate the is/ought problem?
He critiques philosophers for discussing facts about the world and then unjustifiably concluding moral statements, claiming “you can’t get an ought from an is.”
What is naturalism in ethics?
Naturalism is the belief that ‘good’ is a natural fact and can be derived from the world around us.
How does hedonism relate to naturalism?
Hedonism, as a naturalist theory, equates ‘good’ with ‘pleasure,’ suggesting that pleasure is the ultimate measure of morality.
What are some criticisms of hedonism?
People’s pleasures change over time, and pleasure is subjective, making it difficult to define universal moral standards.
Does naturalism always lead to absolutism?
No, while some naturalist theories suggest a fixed moral good, relativist naturalism argues that morality depends on societal norms, like cultural relativism.
How does cultural relativism fit into naturalism?
Cultural relativism sees moral norms as facts about societies, meaning what is “good” depends on cultural beliefs rather than absolute standards.
What is G.E. Moore’s naturalistic fallacy?
It is the error of assuming that ‘good’ can be equated with any natural property, such as pleasure.
How does Moore’s ‘open question argument’ challenge hedonism?
If ‘good’ and ‘pleasure’ were identical, asking “Is pleasure good?” would be meaningless. However, since the question makes sense, they cannot be identical.
What is intuitionism?
It is the belief that goodness is real but non-natural, grasped through intuition rather than empirical observation.
How does G.E. Moore describe intuitionism?
He compares it to recognizing the color yellow: we just know ‘good’ when we see it, but we cannot define it further.
What is H.A. Pritchard’s view on morality?
He argues that moral knowledge comes from our duty, which we determine through intuition.
How does W.D. Ross address conflicting moral duties?
He introduces ‘prima facie duties,’ such as keeping promises and fairness, which help prioritize moral obligations when they conflict.
What are some criticisms of intuitionism?
It assumes an unusual mental faculty for recognizing moral truth, lacks a method for resolving disagreements, and does not provide a way to verify moral claims.
What is emotivism?
A non-cognitive theory that states moral statements only express emotions rather than objective truths.
How did A.J. Ayer describe moral statements?
He argued they are expressions of feelings, like saying “murder is wrong” is equivalent to expressing dislike for murder.
What is Charles Stevenson’s contribution to emotivism?
He developed the idea that moral statements also serve to persuade others, making ethical language reciprocal.
What is Richard Brandt’s criticism of Stevenson’s emotivism?
He argues that we do not always use moral language to persuade, making Stevenson’s theory too simplistic.
What are some strengths of emotivism?
It is egalitarian (all moral opinions are valid), acknowledges cultural moral differences, and explains why moral debates remain unresolved.
What are some weaknesses of emotivism?
It undermines moral reasoning, oversimplifies ethics, and reduces morality to mere emotional reactions (e.g., “boo-hurrah theory”).
What is prescriptivism?
A non-cognitive theory proposed by R.M. Hare, arguing that moral statements prescribe actions rather than express emotions.
How does prescriptivism differ from emotivism?
Unlike emotivism, which focuses on expressing emotions, prescriptivism suggests moral statements recommend actions that should be followed universally.
What is an example of prescriptive moral language?
Saying “stealing is wrong” means “nobody should steal,” prescribing a universal action.
What are some strengths of prescriptivism?
It aligns with how we use moral language, provides clear guidance for moral actions, and overcomes emotivism’s meaninglessness issue.
