Meta Ethics

Question 1

what do we mean by meta ethics ?

Answer 1

we look at the language used to express morality , do words like good exist ? from the Greek word meta meaning above and beyond

Question 2

normative ethics

Answer 2

theories of ethics that give advice on how we ought to behave e.g Kantian ethics

Question 3

Absolutism

Answer 3

morals are fixed , unchanging and everyone should follow e.g Natural law

Question 4

Relativism

Answer 4

moral truths are not fixed and not absolute ; what is right changes according to the individual , situation , culture , time , place e.g Situation ethics

Question 5

Cognitivist

Answer 5

. objective moral truths exist
. moral statement are factual
.moral words exist such as good
.moral concepts can be proven
. naturalism
. Intutionism

Question 6

Non - cognitivist

Answer 6

. opinion can not be logically tested
. mind dependent
.subjective
.words like good do not exist
. Emotivists
. Prescriptivists

Question 7

Naturalism

Answer 7

moral values can be determined in terms of some natural property in the world . 2 types hedonistic and theological

Question 8

Aquinas

Answer 8

we can use our reason and our powers of observation to access facts about what is moral and immoral .. believed goodness came from the will of God

Question 9

F. H Bradley

Answer 9

ethics can be explained by concrete absolute reality we observe , our place in society directs what we should do and your moral duties ; duty is universal

Question 10

Bentham and Mill

Answer 10

we can discover good / bad from whether it causes or removes pleasure

Question 11

Phillipa foot

Answer 11

we can observe moral absolutes e.g through how a person acts in consideration of these virtues

Question 12

Naturalistic fallacy

Answer 12

G. E Moore - error of reducing goodness to a property found in nature e,g pleasure

Question 13

Open question argument

Answer 13

if goodness = pleasure we would not be able to ask if pleasure is good … pleasure is not always good so it cant be the defintion of good .
but bachelors = unmaaried men is a closed question it has a definitve answer

Question 14

Hume / is - ought gap

Answer 14

when we start with a fact we infer something moral from it this is wrong we can only infer something moral from a moral statement

Question 15

Naturalism is right to say moral values are a feature of the world 1

Answer 15

mill argues that we are able to know what is good and desirable .. people want hapiness this shows happiness is a good thing

Question 16

Naturalism is right to say moral values are a feature of the world 2

Answer 16

agreement on moral values throughout the world

Question 17

Naturalism is right to say moral values are a feature of the world 3

Answer 17

reducing morality to opinion reduces the signifcance of ethical debates

Question 18

Naturalism is wrong to say moral values are a feature of the world 1

Answer 18

naturalistic fallacy and open question argument

Question 19

Naturalism is wrong to say moral values are a feature of the world 2

Answer 19

forms of naturalism like aquinas natural law makes the assumption that there us telos but many disagree - if there isnt a definitve purpose there cant be definitve ideas on goodness

Question 20

Intuitionism

Answer 20

Believes that morality is intuitve
you can not define words like good we simply know bcs our intuition tells us it is
intuitionism enables people to know basic moral truths to inform their ethical decsions not all moral decsions are reacted by relying on intuition,

Question 21

G.E MOORE

Answer 21

Good cant be equated with something else it cant be defined .. it is like the colour yellow we know what yellow is but we cant describe it .we know goof when we see example of it by intuition and we know something is rignt or wrong by looking at the consequences ( telelogical)

Question 22

W.D ross

Answer 22

student of pritchard
accepts that duties conflict and change from one culture to another so moral principles are not absolute , But we have prima facie duties these are absolute and the most important ,
In making moral decisons our intuition decided our prima facie duties .

Question 23

Prima facie duties

Answer 23

romise keelping
repairing harm done
gratitude
justice
benficence
self improvement
non-malifcence

Question 24

H.A pritchard

Answer 24

leading UK moral philospher in the 1920s and 30s
There is a gap between the good thing and the idea of what thing i have a duty to bring about for P duty is beyond the good thing to do , working out right or wrong is our duty which we use intuition to work out
P does not explain how we choose or the fact different ppl have different intuitions he say when ppl disagree moral thinking has not been fully developed