1B : Intuitionism

Question 1

What type of theory is intuitionism?

Answer 1

Meta - ethical

Question 2

Who do we associate with intuitionism?

Answer 2

G E Moore, H. A Prichard & W. D Ross

Question 3

What are the main points of intuitionism?

Answer 3

• Objective moral laws exist independently of human beings
• moral truths can be discovered by using our minds in an intuitive way; intuitive ability is innate and the same for all moral agents
• intuition needs a mature minds so not infallible; allows for objective moral values.
• Recognise what we ‘ought to do’ by intuition.

Question 4

What did G.E Moore say about intuitionism?

Answer 4

We naturally possess a moral intuition that recognises moral terms such as ‘good’ and ‘bad’. It is an innate ability possessed by all moral agents. Often defined as ‘the act or faculty of knowing or sensing without the uses of rational processes…’you just know’’
Moore believe that ‘good’ and ‘bad’ express inner facts and aren’t just opinions.

Question 5

What did H.A Prichard add to intuitionism?

Answer 5

Prichard focused on the term ‘ought to do’. He believed ‘ought’ was undefinable therefore moral agents cannot study what they ‘ought’ to do. He observed that moral agents were able to recognise what we ‘ought to do’ in a moral situation, he believed this is because of our innate intuition. Our sense of duty comes from our intuition about certain moral actions and that our intuition is guiding us to follow a set of deontological actions. He also distinguished between general thinking and moral thinking.

Question 6

According to Prichard, what is moral thinking?

Answer 6

Based on an immediate intuition about the right action to do.

Question 7

According to Prichard, what is general thinking?

Answer 7

Moral agents use reason to assess the facts of a moral situation.

Question 8

What are the challenges to intuitionism?

Answer 8

• no proof moral intuition exists
• intuitive ‘truths’ can differ widely
• no obvious way to resolve conflicting intuitions
• naturalism
• emotivism

Question 9

Explain the challenge to intuitionism: no proof moral intuition exists.

Answer 9

Many don’t think objective moral truths exist as moral statements are not factual statements. Also there is no way to know if it is objective as it cannot be tested.
Intuitionism’s fail to explain why intuition is universally applicable to ethics, there is no intrinsic reason why.
There could also be explanations for so-called ‘intuitionism’ - a religious person could claim this was the voice of God, sociology suggests this comes from social conditioning.

Question 10

Explain the challenge to intuitionism: Intuitive ‘truths’ can differ widely.

Answer 10

Moral intuition seems to come from social conditioning making it hard to see how such intuitions can be a reliable guide to objective truths.
If real objective moral truths exist they are presumably the same for everyone yet people come to different conclusions when faced with the same ethical problem.
It is clear that intuition is not universal.

Question 11

Explain the challenge to intuitionism: no obvious way to resolve conflicting intuitions.

Answer 11

If intuitions conflict, both cannot be right. How do you decide which intuition is correct?
Intuitionism takes a very monist view and has no ‘plan B’ for when this happens.