Meta Ethics Flashcards
Normative ethics
Also known as prescriptive ethics as it prescribes a course of action.
Objectivism
There is an absolute moral truth
Subjectivism
The truth is in the mind of the observer
Cognitivism
All ethical statements are true and meaningful
Non cognitivism
Ethical statements are just an expression of emotion
Ethical naturalism
All ethical statements can be scientifically proven e.g. Aquinas and Aristotle
Naturalistic fallacy AO2
Can’t jump from an is to an ought
Intuitionism
You can’t describe it but you know it when you see it e.g. Yellow
G.E Moore
Prima Facie duties
W.D Ross 7 duties it’s out duty to carry out certain actions. It’s self evident
4 problems with intuitionism
Can’t base decisions on a hunch
Societies differ
It’s vague
Cultural relativism is a better explanation
Logical positivism
Developed by the Vienna circle
Ayer based his ideas on it
Emotivism
Ayer - ethical statements are just an expression of emotion e.g. Fox hunting
Rachel’s criticism of emotivism
AO2
Ethical statements appeal to reason and are often grounded in evidence
Descriptive and dynamic meaning
C.L Stevenson - all ethical statements have two meanings
There is meaning behind it - you want people to act on it
Hare’s golden rule
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you
Prescriptivism
Prescribed what should be done
What is a strength of cognitivism?
It takes the existence of moral absolutes seriously which is good as morality is too important to just be a personal opinion.
What is a problem with cognitivists
Non cognitivists point out the difference between fact and opinion e.g. Capital of England and abortion is wrong- it can’t be empirically tested. Morality for non cognitivists is it simply is a matter of personal choice that society forms into rules which reflect the opinions of the majority
Truths don’t exist and morality can change everyday so the strongest argument we have for enforcing change is that ‘over here we don’t like what you’re doing’
