Meta ethics Flashcards by Bradley Robson

What is Meta ethics

second order moral discourse

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How does meta ethics takes us beyond normative ethics

‘What should you do decisions’ looking at the words of ethical statements and how we use them

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What does meta means

reel for “above or after”

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What doe we mean by descriptive ethical language

description of a situation. It gives facts and avoids moral judgement or bias

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“most teenagers pregnancies are from girls who leave school without gcses” is a quote talking about what

Descriptive ethical language

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What does normative ethics mean

makes value judgement be analysing what is right and wrong

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What quote is linked to normative ethics

“war is always wrong”

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What does meta ethics mean

ebfore we can decide what constitues good/bad behaviour we msut define terms such a good/bad etc

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“what is meant by good” is linked to what

meta ethics

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Which of these are bad
opinion - e.g. music
Performing well
something without moral worth
doing the right thing

something without moral worth

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What’s Hume opinions on facts and values

that there is a difference between them both

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According to Hume in the quote “a man killed his wife by stabbing her with a kitchen knife” what type of ethical language is the statement of

descriptive

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In the Quote “a man killed his wife by stabbing her with a kitchen knife” Hume isnt condoning murder but what is he trying to illustrate

That we attach moral values to facts, based on our opinions

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according to the is-ought gap what did he learn about the fact that we help with the famine in africa

just because there is a famine, why does this me we ought to help?

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What is Hume is trying to ensure ethics follows

A strict system of logic and avoid slipping from descriptive or prescriptive

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what does cognitive mean

Belief that moral truth exist and can be verified empirically

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What are some cognative theories

Ethical naturalism
Intuitionism

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What do cognitive believes moral concepts are. And how does that link to “Murder is wrong”

That they are real. They are also objective. So “murder is wrong” can be true or false

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How can moral statements be verified

With empirical evidence

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What does Non cognitive mean

the belief that moral truths are a matter of personal choice and do not exist independently from human experiences

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What are some Non Cognitive theories

Emotivism
prescriptive

What doe Non cognitivists moral concepts as. And how does that link to “murder is wrong”

“right” and “wrong” as subjective. and “murder is wrong” is expressing your opinion

According to Non Cognitive what’s impossible

To verify whether an opinion is true or false

A flexible approach to morality will lead to chaos means what to moral objective

Without moral objectivity what happens to the justice system

What do ethical naturalism mean for moral truths

That there are moral truths and so moral laws exists

How can ethical naturalism be experienced

They can be experienced and understood through analysis of the natural world and human nature

if we link ethical naturalism to normative theories what does that mean for Utilitarianism

Murder is wrong... we can observe that it prevents pleasure/ happiness

if we link ethical naturalism to normative theories what does that mean for natural law theory

Murder is wrong... prevents the natural fulfilment of the individual

if we link ethical naturalism to normative theories what does that mean for Hume

truth lies in the beliefs human beings have about the natural world that they have gained through experience

What does committing to naturalistic fallacy mean of ethical naturalism

That it now becomes an initial problem

Just because nature is a certain way, it does not follow there ought to be moral demand mean for ethical naturalism

That it is an an internal problem

What does morality = according to ethical naturalism

morality = what ought to be

According to ethical naturalism what does Human nature =

what is

According to ethical naturalism what's the difference between theological and hedonistic naturalism

Theological - goodness is linked to gods as seen in nature. This is like how God defines morality. hedonistic - Goodness is a fact to pleasure and happiness

What RB Perry opinion

Follows the same as hedonistic naturalism due to P.B perry suggests good means 'being on objective of favourable interest' where 'right' means 'being conductive to haronious happiness'. Perry believes 'x is good' means the same as 'x is an object of desire' 'Y is right' is the same as 'Y is conductive to harmonious happiness'

What does Bradley reject

hedonism due to how pleasure provides no final self-understanding

Who and what ideas did Bradley oppose and what did Bradley conclude was a better approach

Kant and his ideas of duty for sake of duty as doesn't guide us in morality or give human satisfaction. Bradley concluded a better approach was to pursue self-realisation within the community

What quote did bradley say

"we have found the end, we have found self realisation, duty and happiness in one- yes we have found ourselves, when we have found our station and its duties, out function as an organ of social organism"

According to Bradley how do we find out true selves

we find our true selves when we learn from family, community when we adopt the values of society and those of other societies when they offer criticism to ours.

How does Bradley think wee should be a good person

We must know our stations and duties. This is so we can have a hard work and obedience

Briefly explain Moore's criticism that talks about mother Teresa

That ethical naturalism doesn't allow for moral dispute. We can say that "mother Teresa was good" refers to how majority feel so cannot be proven wrong. We can have a change of opinion but it still correct as statement is expression of differing attitudes at particular time

Expand on moores criticism of it being to simplistic

Morality is nuanced and ethical naturalism doesnt allow for change. Euthanasia under ethical naturalism would be wrong because of murder. People cant fit into boxes

How would Moore claimed any attempt to define ethical language in naturalistic terms

Good = pleasure, happiness, desire, approval, virtue (etc) is a mistake. Theories that argue good life is identified with any natural poverty is guilty of naturalistic fallacy which assumes goodness is something which can be grasped by an act of direct observation

How is supported by ethical evidence important to ethical naturalism

People like proof

How does being absolute and objective help be a stregnth for ethical naturalism

Takes morality seriously. Supports an object justice system in which people are fairly punished

How does promoting our duties help become a strength for ethical naturalism

you and we both have evidence why we should be doing them, not just for duty's sake like Kant. Bradley will lead people being useful members of society and this benefits everyone

What does intuitionism mean

True or false that ethical propositions are true or false and are known by intuition

Why is morality intuitive

We know (cognitive "fact") what good is, without being able to define it

What does intuition mean

to understand something instinctively without conscious reasoning

In intuitionism who said "We know what yellow is and can recognise it whenever it is seen. But we cannot define yellow. In the same way we know what good is. But we cannot actual define it"

Moore

In intuitionism what were Moores 2 ideas and what do they mean

Simple - cannot be broken down further (EG yellow) Complex ideas - can be broken down

What are moral terms according to intuitionism

They are simple. The word 'good' is indefinable and cant be analysed because it is simple and the concept cannot be broken down further.