Absolutism

Question 1

Define absolutism

Answer 1

an absolute form of moral rules which cannot be broken

Question 2

Define ethical naturalism

Answer 2

humans share a common human nature from which universal moral standards can be decided

Question 3

Kant’s view

Answer 3

• ethical naturalist
• believed that morality existed independently of religion and relied on reason alone to discover universal truth
• RATIONAL INTUITION

Question 4

Moore’s view

Answer 4

• created the idea of a ‘Naturalistic Fallacy’ = just because there is a common occurrence of something does not mean that it is right
  => rejects ethical naturalism as it depends on the observation of human nature

Question 5

List 3 weaknesses with absolutism

Answer 5

1. uncompromising adherence to rules can become oppressive and unsympathetic (abortion in relation to rape)
2. given human error, every system would have room for a ‘second chance’
3. can lead to legalism = adherence to letter but not spirit of law - ‘Sermon on the Mount’ : Jesus condemns the hypocrisy of legalism

Question 6

Moore’s intuitionism

Answer 6

• his attempt to make ethical language meaningful whilst avoiding the naturalistic fallacy
• “Good” is simple as we should all know intuitively what good is a priori (Plato)
• we do not need a prescription to tell us what is good in the world

Question 7

H.A Prichard’s intuitionism

Answer 7

• we intuitively know what we ought to do when you use your reason; it is a combination of the two
• yet some people have developed their moral thinking more than others => lacks universalisability

Question 8

Define intuitionism

Answer 8

there are object moral truths independent of human beings and we use our mind in an intuitive way

Question 9

Generic criticisms of intuitionism

Answer 9

• you could justify any action
• intuitions are from social conditioning
• intuitionism aims to be cognitive, but ethics are different for everyone if they are apart of our intuitions => subjective
• ultimately it lacks the foundation and allows any behaviour
• hard to differentiate between I believe good is x, and good is x => does it all collapse into our preference?

Question 10

Philippa Foot’s view

Answer 10

• our intuitions could be wrong
• questions whether we are ethically colour blind (some see yellow, those who are colour blind see grey, the same can apply to ethics)
• does it eventually collapse into our preference?