Meta-Ethics Flashcards
What are the 3 key Meta-Ethical theories?
Naturalism, Intuitionism and Emotivism
Name 3 key naturalists
1) F.H. Bradley
2) Phillipa Foot
3) J.L Mackie
Who is the most prominent opposition to Naturalism?
David Hume
What is D.H. Bradleys key idea?
That good is seen when people keep to their station
What is a key criticism of Bradley?
It is an incredibly authoritarian and classist theory, seemingly created to keep the lower classes in their place
What is Phillipa Foot’s key idea?
We prescribe “good” to people and it is seemingly agreed. “a just man” is seen as good. It is a verifiable thing.
I) What is Hume’s main criticism of Naturalism?
II) What name has this been given
I) The “Is/Ought” principle. Namely that just because something “is” does not mean that we necessarily “ought” to do a specific thing. Hume argues this is a logic jump and that there is significant difference between what “is” and what ought to be
II) Hume’s Law
What is J.L. Mackie’s key idea?
Morals are not absolute but are instruments of tradition and the institution a person is in
What is J.L. Mackie’s evidence for his theory?
Moral drive to do something can easily be overridden
Name 3 key Intuitionists
1) G.E. Moore
2) H.A Pritchard
3) W.D. Ross
What is G.E. Moore’s key idea?
Good is a simple concept that can not be broken down, just as the colour yellow is. in short, we know it when we see it
I) What is the Naturalistic fallacy?
II) Who came up with this theory?
I) Trying to analyse or break down the concept of “Good”
II) G.E. Moore
Give a quote that summarises G.E. Moore’s theory
“Good is good and that is the end of the matter” - G.E. Moore, Principa Ethica (1903)
Why does Moore argue that we can not measure “good”?
He argues it is impossible to measure intuition empirically, and that we know Good intuitively
What are H.A Pritchard’s key ideas? (2)
I) Trying to find arguments to determine our moral obligations is pointless
II) Good, and what we have a duty to carry out, are different. Duty is beyond the good thing to do
What does H.A Pritchard use as an example for why morals are not absolute?
In the case of giving to a charity, which one? there is no correct answer, we just use out intuition to try and find one
How does Pritchard explain why the “right thing” is not agreed upon?
Different people have different levels of Moral Clarity
What is arguably Pritchard’s greatest contribution to Meta-Ethics?
The introduction of words aside from good and bad, such as “obligation” and “duty”
I) Why does Ross argue that principles should not be taken as absolute?
II) What example does Ross give?
I) Moral principles are dependent on the institution, and often conflict.
II) “Promise me you will not tell my brother I am in the attic” either requires a lie or to break a promise
What did Ross propose to get around this?
Prima Facie duties, or “Duties at first sight”
What are the 7 Prima Facie duties?
1) Promise-Keeping
2) Reparation for harm done
3) Gratitude
4) Justice
5) beneficence
6) Self-improvement
7) Non-maleficence
I) Which is the most important Prima Facie duty?
II) What is placed over the Prima Facie duties?
I) None. how to balance the Prima Facie duties is up to the individual
II) Preserving life
What was Ross’ justification for the seemingly compilated system he proposed?
“It is more important that our theory fit the facts than it be simple” - Ross, The Right and the Good (1930)
What is a key criticism of Ross’ theory
It is uncomfortable for those who need concrete answers in life-or-death situations
Who is the most prominent emotivist?
A.J. Ayer
What were the three kinds of judgements Ayer presents?
- Logical (analytical)
- Factual (Synthetic)
- Moral
What did Ayer believe morals inform on?
The person, not the world itself. Morals are subjective
