1.3 Cognitivism: Intuitionism

Question 1

Non-naturalism, & how this links to intuitionism

Answer 1

• ethical language can make objectively true or false claims about things that are not part of the natural world
• Intuitionism: we can know moral truth, but in a special way (not via senses or reasoning)

Question 2

How do we know if something is [colour]? Do we ‘figure it out’ or do we just ‘see’ it? And can ‘good’ work in the same way i.e. do we just know it when we see it?

Answer 2

• G.E. Moore argues that just like we recognise a colour e.g. yellow without needing to define it, we recognise moral goodness without needing proof
• This supports Intuitionism - we don’t need logical reasoning to know what’s right & wrong

Question 3

G.E Moore on intuitionism

Answer 3

“We know what yellow is and can recognise it where it is seen, but we cannot actually define