Meta-Ethics

Question 1

What are the 3 key Meta-Ethical theories?

Answer 1

Naturalism, Intuitionism and Emotivism

Question 2

Name 3 key naturalists

Answer 2

1) F.H. Bradley
2) Phillipa Foot
3) J.L Mackie

Question 3

Who is the most prominent opposition to Naturalism?

Answer 3

David Hume

Question 4

What is D.H. Bradleys key idea?

Answer 4

That good is seen when people keep to their station

Question 5

What is a key criticism of Bradley?

Answer 5

It is an incredibly authoritarian and classist theory, seemingly created to keep the lower classes in their place

Question 6

What is Phillipa Foot’s key idea?

Answer 6

We prescribe “good” to people and it is seemingly agreed. “a just man” is seen as good. It is a verifiable thing.

Question 7

I) What is Hume’s main criticism of Naturalism?

II) What name has this been given

Answer 7

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

Question 8

What is J.L. Mackie’s key idea?

Answer 8

Morals are not absolute but are instruments of tradition and the institution a person is in

Question 9

What is J.L. Mackie’s evidence for his theory?

Answer 9

Moral drive to do something can easily be overridden

Question 10

Name 3 key Intuitionists

Answer 10

1) G.E. Moore
2) H.A Pritchard
3) W.D. Ross

Question 11

What is G.E. Moore’s key idea?

Answer 11

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

Question 12

I) What is the Naturalistic fallacy?

II) Who came up with this theory?

Answer 12

I) Trying to analyse or break down the concept of “Good”

II) G.E. Moore

Question 13

Give a quote that summarises G.E. Moore’s theory

Answer 13

“Good is good and that is the end of the matter” - G.E. Moore, Principa Ethica (1903)

Question 14

Why does Moore argue that we can not measure “good”?

Answer 14

He argues it is impossible to measure intuition empirically, and that we know Good intuitively

Question 15

What are H.A Pritchard’s key ideas? (2)

Answer 15

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

Question 16

What does H.A Pritchard use as an example for why morals are not absolute?

Answer 16

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

Question 17

How does Pritchard explain why the “right thing” is not agreed upon?

Answer 17

Different people have different levels of Moral Clarity

Question 18

What is arguably Pritchard’s greatest contribution to Meta-Ethics?

Answer 18

The introduction of words aside from good and bad, such as “obligation” and “duty”

Question 19

I) Why does Ross argue that principles should not be taken as absolute?
II) What example does Ross give?

Answer 19

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

Question 20

What did Ross propose to get around this?

Answer 20

Prima Facie duties, or “Duties at first sight”

Question 21

What are the 7 Prima Facie duties?

Answer 21

1) Promise-Keeping
2) Reparation for harm done
3) Gratitude
4) Justice
5) beneficence
6) Self-improvement
7) Non-maleficence

Question 22

I) Which is the most important Prima Facie duty?

II) What is placed over the Prima Facie duties?

Answer 22

I) None. how to balance the Prima Facie duties is up to the individual
II) Preserving life

Question 23

What was Ross’ justification for the seemingly compilated system he proposed?

Answer 23

“It is more important that our theory fit the facts than it be simple” - Ross, The Right and the Good (1930)

Question 24

What is a key criticism of Ross’ theory

Answer 24

It is uncomfortable for those who need concrete answers in life-or-death situations

Question 25

Who is the most prominent emotivist?

Answer 25

A.J. Ayer

Question 26

What were the three kinds of judgements Ayer presents?

Answer 26

1. Logical (analytical)
2. Factual (Synthetic)
3. Moral

Question 27

What did Ayer believe morals inform on?

Answer 27

The person, not the world itself. Morals are subjective