Metaethics Flashcards
What is moral realism?
moral facts are mind independent, objective and care out there (Cognitive)
What question does Meta ethics ask?
how dyu determine what is the good
What is naturalism?
what is good is natural (looking at the world and nature)
What are the two types of naturalism?
- Theological naturalism:
natural law (Aquinas) - Ethical naturalism:
Utility (Bentham)
What are the strengths and weaknesses of Moral Realism?
+++++++++++
1. moral statements are cognitive
2. empirically grounded (VP)
- the is out gap
- naturalistic fallacy
What is intuitionism?
The good is known through intuition alone and is self evident.
E.g. the colour yellow can’t be defined, only shown
What are the strengths and weaknesses of intuitionism?
++++++++++++
1. most ppl have similar intuitions (not killing)
2. optimistic
3. avoids the naturalistic fallacy
- some ppl don’t have a strong intuition
- even when they do, they are different amongst even moral ppl
- Emotivism
What is divine command theory?
Good is the will of God as commanded by Him in the scripture.
Issue: Euthyphro dilemma
What are the strengths and weaknesses of Divine command theory?
+++++++++++
1. objective morality
2. morality is beyond us
3. offers simple rules
4. Kolberg says most ppl aren’t capable of moral thinking
- God may not exist
- different interpretations of scriptures
- Which God do we follow
- Euthyphro dilemma
What is emotivism?
morality is meaningless according to the VP, so only expresses preferences of what we think or feel about moral statements e.g. booooo, or yay.
What are the strengths and weaknesses of emotivism?
+++++++++++++
1. polite, inclusive and diverse
2. aligns with Hume’s is ought gap
3. Aligns with the VP
- consequences to the legal system
- dangerously inclusive
- no foundation for rational discourse
- No replacement theory for morality
