Metaethical theories

Question 1

What does the branch of Metaethics seek to explain

Answer 1

1. What is the nature of Moral language
2. Is Moral knowledge possible
3. Do Moral Facts Exist

Question 2

Seeks to explain the meaning of Moral language by reducing our moral judgements to feelings

Answer 2

Emotivism

Question 3

This theory, in essence, states that when we judge an action to be immoral or a person to be bad, in moral sense, this is just another way of expressing emotion. When we experience a morally good action, we feel good, when we experience a morally bad action, we feel bad.

Answer 3

Emotivism- Metaethical theory- addressing the nature of language

Question 4

Position that there are mind-independent facts about morality and are true regardless if one disagrees because these facts are true and binding

Answer 4

Moral Realism

Question 5

Moral facts in a strong sense do not exist, but if they do they are culture or person- dependent.

Answer 5

Moral Anti-realism

Question 6

Forms of Moral Relativism

Answer 6

1. Descriptive relativism
2. Metaethical relativism
3. Normative relativism

Question 7

descriptive relativism description

Answer 7

the weakest form of Moral Relativism and is undoubtedly true. It states that as a matter of fact, different cultures have different values.

Question 8

What is the task of a descriptive relativist?

Answer 8

catalog different cultures and their values. list differences such as an anthropologist does.

Question 9

Metaethical relativism

Answer 9

Asserts the stronger view that moral claims are true or false, relative to a given society.

Question 10

Normative relativism

Answer 10

1.) no one should ever judge the ethical codes of other cultures as inferior or superior and
2.) no one should ever impose its own values on another culture

Question 11

How does Moral Relativism avoid the pitfall of cognitive bias?

Answer 11

avoids cognitive bias because its aim altogether is to not judge other cultures or compare our own culture to others. it takes the stance of not taking a stance.

Question 12

positives of relativism

Answer 12

avoids cognitive bias and dogmatism

Question 13

How do moral relativists solve the problem of Moral diversity?

Answer 13

Moral relativists do not maintain the view that some values are better than others, they acknowledge that different cultures have different values and these have changed over the course of time. this is the most favorable argument for moral relativists.

Question 14

How does moral relativism solve the problem of imperialism?

Answer 14

Because it is undeniable that differences in values exist among different cultures and we see those change as time changes (ex: history) moral relativists will treat other values with tolerance and will not try to impose their views onto other (ex: extreme example is normative relativism and fGM).

Question 15

list the pros of being a relativist

Answer 15

1. avoid dogmatism and cognitive bias
2. avoid imperialism
3. solves problem of Moral diversity

Question 16

A problem with moral relativism that we encounter who relativism is relative to…

Answer 16

it assumes cultures are monolithic and that every member of a society accepts its values as true. this creates a problem with people within the culture who disagree with the values upheld by most or defined by the society- we then come across problems with labeling and identifying the culture.

Question 17

incoherence

Answer 17

moral relativism is said to be a rationally incoherent view because if Moral Relativism is only true to moral relativists- why should anyone else listen/care if their views only apply to them alone?

Question 18

relativism and history, progress, laws and changes for the good or bad…

Answer 18

moral relativism cant explain moral progress or moral reform.

Question 19

bad features of Moral relativism

Answer 19

1. relative to whom
2. incoherence
3. cant explain moral progress or moral reform