1.2 Cognitivism: Ethical Naturalism

Question 1

Describe the branch of meta-ethics

Answer 1

Primary: Meta-ethics
Secondary: Cognitivists & Non-cognitivists

• within cognitivists: ethical naturalists + institutionists
• within non-cognitivists: emotivists + prescriptivism

Question 2

Define ethical naturalism

Answer 2

the argument that ‘good’ is a natural property in the world that can be discovered empirically

Question 3

Define empiricism

Answer 3

the theory that all knowledge is based on sense-experience

Question 4

Explain the argument of ethical naturalism

Answer 4

• ethical naturalism is the idea that moral truths exist & can be discovered in the same way as scientific facts - through observation and experience
• it suggests that what is ‘good’ or ‘bad’ can be understood by looking at the natural world, including human nature & society
• for example, ethical naturalists might say that kindness is good because it helps people live together peacefully, & on the other hand cruelty is bad because it causes harm
• they believe moral rules, like scientific laws, are based on real, natural facts about how people & the world work
• simply put, ethical naturalism covers morality that is based on facts about the world rather than just feelings or opinions

Question 5

What is the main difference between ethical naturalism & personal opinions about right & wrong?

Answer 5

ethical naturalism deduces morality through the visual & physical benefits of an action whereas personal opinions are based on thinking; a sort of spiritual or intuitive sense

Question 6

How can we figure out what is right or wrong using ethical naturalism? Give an example

Answer 6

• naturalists believe that moral conclusions can be deduced from non-moral premises i.e. one can conclude that something is wrong from observation & analysis
• in this way, if one witnesses a murder of an innocent person, the wrongness of the murder is as much a fact of the universe as the fact that stabbing the knife into the heart will stop it

Question 7

Ethical naturalism: 3 strengths

Answer 7

1. moral truths are real, not just personal opinions, & are based on facts like happiness & well-being
2. morality is grounded in science & observable facts about human nature, biology, & psychology
3. it argues that moral facts exist independently of individual or cultural beliefs, countering moral relativism