Meta Ethics Flashcards
Meaning of meta
Greek for above or beyond
Absolutism
View That there is an objective standard of right and wrong. Things are good or bad in themselves not dictated by our opinions.
Analytic
Statement that is true by definition
Boo hurrah theory
A.J.Ayers version of emotions that states moral statements are no more meaningful than saying boo or hurrah
Cognitivism
Ethical theory that states there are absolute morals independent of human opinions
Emotivism
Form of non-cognitivism that reduces ethical statements to expression of personal beliefs
Ethical naturalism
Form of cognitivism that claims moral statements can be empirically verified and no different from moral statements
Eudaimonia
Ultimate good for humanity according to thomas aquinas. Ultimate happiness
Euthyphro dilemma
Socrates and euthyphro debate whether morality is simply what God commands or adheres to morality
Fundamental beliefs
Shows ethical statements are relative but not simply emotional responses. Based on fundamental beliefs
Golden rule
Rule given by jesus in the story of the good samaritan to love your neighbour as yourself
Hedonic naturalism
Type of ethical naturalism that equates good with pleasure or happiness
Humes law
Argues that you cannot go from an is (observation) to an ought (moral imperative)
Intuitionism
Form of cognitivism that claims that good cannot be defined or empirically tested but recognised through intuition
Logical positivism
Movement founded by Vienna circle that co riders statements to be meaningful only if they’re analytic
Meta ethics
Type of ethics that analyse the meaning and nature of moral terms such as good
Moral scepticism
Ethical theory that states that no one can have moral knowledge
Normative ethics
Attempts to discover if actions are good or bad
Naturalistic fallacy
Term used by G.E.Moore to explain error of ethical naturalism in reducing morality to non moral concepts
Non cognitivism
Ethical theory that states that there are no absolute morals completely subjective and dependent on human belief
Open question argument
Used by G.E.Moore to demonstrate error of hedonic naturalism in reducing morality to pleasure
Prescriptivism
Form of non-cognitivism says ethical statements have both a descriptive and prescriptive element whilst still being relative to person
Prima facie duties
Duties at first sight
Relativism
View That their is no objective standard of right and wrong dictated by opinions
Synthetic
Statement not true by definition must be tested through observation
Telos
Purpose
Theological naturalism
Type of ethical naturalism that equates good with God’s will
Universalisation
Process of universalising something. Applicable to all people
Vienna circle
Group of philosophers who gathered in Vienna in 19922. Responsible for the logical positivism movement
F.H.Braley (ethical naturalism)
Can discover ethical truth through observation
Ethical statements no different to non ethical ones
You can empirically verify
Similar to aquinas
Goodness linked to divine will
Anything that helps us achieve our telos is good
Anything that takes us away from eudaimonia is bad
Theological naturalism
Good = Goss command
Aquinas
Euthyphro dilemma
Hedonic naturalism
Good = pleasure
Utilitarianism
Naturalistic fallacy
Philippa foot
Shares aristotles emphasis on telos
Anything I’ll suited to this is seen as natural defect
Anything suited to this is virtuous
When we call a person good we are referring to a virtue they possess
Con observe morality through observing virtues
David Hume (intuitionism)
Emotivism- morals not fact come from feelings
Humes fork - two types of knowledge
Relations of ideas - true by definition
Matters of fact - proven by experience
Moral statements are neither of these
Is ought fallacy
People often assume moral rule from a fact without proving it
Morality derived from social norms
J.L.Mackie
Moral scepticism - doubts moral values exist as objective truths
Against absolutism - morals exist but not absolute
Morals relative
A.J.Ayer
Moral statements are just expression of emotions
R.M.Hare
Moral statements function as commands
Absolute
Moral truths are unchanging and universal
Objective
Moral truths exist independently of human opinion
Relative
Moral truths vary depending on culture or individual perspective
Subjective
Moral truths depend on personal beliefs or attitudes
A.J.Ayer (emotivism)
Moral statements meaningless
Boo hurrah theory
No moral facts just expression of emotions
Accepted humes law that morality is just a sentiment
C.L.Stevenson
Agreed with emotivism but disagreed with conclusion
Moral statements aim to persuade
We use persuasive language
