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RS 2 ETHICS > Theme 1D Naturalism > Flashcards

Theme 1D Naturalism Flashcards

Main people - F.H. Bradley

1
Q

What does meta-ethics mean?

A

It highlights what we mean by words such as ‘good’, ‘bad’, ‘right’, or ‘wrong’.

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2
Q

Translate meta-ethics

A

It means ‘beyond ethics’. That is, it goes further than ethical theories to look at what is meant by the terms used in ethics.

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3
Q

What is meta ethics the study of?

A

the NATURE of ethics. So what we mean by words.

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4
Q

What is the opposite of meta-ethics?

A

Normative ethics, which is the study of ethical action.

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5
Q

Therefore, if meta-ethics is opposite to normative ethics, what does it mean?

A

That is doesn’t tell us what we can and cannot do, just what we mean by certain words.

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6
Q

Is naturalism cognitive or non-cognitive?

A

Cognitive

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7
Q

Define cognitive

A

A statement that is subject to being true or false. That is, a moral statement can be objectively verified or falsified. TRUTH APT.

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8
Q

Is language meaningful or not meaningful with a cognitive approach?

A

Meaningful

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9
Q

If moral statements can either be verified/become true or falsifies/be wrong, what does this make them?

A

Factual statements

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10
Q

Are these factual statements known by everyone? Use a term here

A

Yes - they have a universal approach

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11
Q

Define naturalism

A

Naturalism is the meta-ethical theory that highlights that everything is provable with empirical evidence.

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12
Q

What does it mean by empirical evidence?

A

Our senses - things we can see, hear, feel, taste and smell.

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13
Q

In what way can moral statements be proven to be true/false?

A

By using the same ‘natural’ terms to define mathematics and science.

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14
Q

Ethical terms can be defined using the same ‘natural’ terms that we would use to define what?

A

Maths and science

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15
Q

What is the significance of being able to show ethical statements in the same way as maths and science?

A

We can prove ethical statements to be true or false, just like we can with maths or science.

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16
Q

How do naturalists conclude that something is right or wrong?

A

Through observation and analysis/ empirical evidence.

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17
Q

How many categories of naturalists are there?

A

2

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18
Q

What are these naturalists called

A

Theological naturalists and hedonic naturalists

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19
Q

What are theological naturalists?

A

Goodness is linked to the will of God as seen in nature. God’s will defines morality.

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20
Q

Give an example of a theological naturalist

A

St Thomas Aquinas and in Divine Command Theory (link to spec)

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21
Q

Give an example of a theological naturalism situation

A

Murder is wrong as God has commanded it in the 10 commandments and in the Bible. This is morality.

22
Q

What are hedonic naturalists?

A

Goodness is a fact of pleasure or happiness.

23
Q

Give an example of a hedonic naturalist.

A

Jeremy Bentham’s utilitarianism.

24
Q

What does R.B PERRY say?
Fill in the blank
‘good’ means ‘being an …….(a)……. of ……(b)……. interest’
and
‘right’ means ‘being ….(c)…. to ….(d)…. happiness.’

A

(a) object
(b) favourable
(c) conducive
(d) harmonious

25
Q

What does R.B PERRY emphasise?

A

That good and right are not the same thing and hat being right will only lead to happiness???

26
Q

What is R.B PERRY in favour of?

A

Hedonic naturalism

27
Q

What do Hedonic naturalists use as their empirical evidence to prove a moral statement?

A

Pleasure as the non-ethical element.

28
Q

What do Theological naturalists use as their empirical evidence to prove a moral statement?

A

God’s will is the non-ethical element.

29
Q

For Naturalists, does the term ‘good’ occur on its own?

A

No

30
Q

Why doesn’t the term ‘good’ exist on its own?

A

Because it can be reduced to pleasure, happiness (hedonic) or God’s will (theological)

31
Q

What does CHARLES R. PIGDEN refer naturalists to?
FILL IN THE BLANK.
‘Naturalists… resort to all sorts of supposed ….(a)…. - ….(b)…., ….(c)…., ….(d), and even ….(e)….

A

(a) facts
(b) sociological
(c) psychological
(d) scientific
(e) supernatural

32
Q

How is Naturalism different to intuitionalism?

A

It doesn’t require opinions - that is, moral facts are not opinions, likes nor dislikes. Instead, it includes empirical evidence.

33
Q

Who is the well-known contributor for Naturalism?

A

F.H Bradley

34
Q

What’s the name of F.H Bradley’s most well-known book?

A

‘Ethical Studies’

35
Q

What did F.H Bradley believe (about Naturalism)?

A

A moral perspective was determined from self-realisation and observing/acknowledging one’s role within their society.

36
Q

Which theories did Bradley oppose?

A

Hedonism (Bentham’s Act Utilitarianism) and Kant’s duty for the sake of duty theory.

37
Q

Why did Bradley reject Hedonism?

A

As pleasure does not provide a final self-understanding.

38
Q

Why did Bradley reject Kant’s idea of duty for the sake of duty?

A

It does not guide humans in morality’s direction nor does it give human satisfaction.

38
Q

Why did Bradley reject Kant’s idea of duty for the sake of duty?

A

It does not guide humans in morality’s direction nor does it give human satisfaction.

39
Q

Due to the rejection of both hedonic and Kant’s theory of duty for the sake of duty, what did Bradley conclude?

A

The better approach was to pursue self-realisation within the community.

40
Q

Quote from Bradley - FILL IN THE BLANKS
“we have found the end, the ….(a)…., duty and happiness in one… we have found our ….(b)…. and its ….(c)…., our function as an ….(d)…. of the ….(e)…. ……..”

A

(a) self-realisation
(b) station
(c) duties
(d) organ
(e) social organism

41
Q

How can we make sure to be our best and true selves? (3)

A

Realise our true self
Adopt values of our society
Adopt values from other societies’ criticisms of our society (criticisms towards us)

42
Q

What do we gain from our society and criticisms from other societies? (2 ish)

A

The best satisfaction as a human placing us firmly in the concrete universe.

43
Q

According to a naturalist, how may someone be a good person?

A

If they know their station and their duty within society.

44
Q

Once realises their position within society and their station, what must they do?

A

Fulfil this role - it’s your duty to perform the function of that station.

45
Q

What is self-realisation?

A

The journey to understand one’s own identity.

46
Q

CHALLENGES TO NATURALISM - What are the challenged to Naturalism (3)

A
  • Hume’s Guillotine/ The IS/Ought Problem
  • G.E. Moore’s Naturalistic Fallacy
  • G.E. Moore’s Open Question Argument
47
Q

NOTE - Naturalism highlights that moral language is meaningful, so you could argue against with theories that believe moral language isn’t meaningful (such as Emotivism). But you must not that Cognitive theories believe that moral language is meaningful (such as Naturalism and Intuitionism)

A
48
Q

CHALLENGES TO NATURALISM

A

Bradley’s suggestion that morals were a concrete universe, no longer signifies outside of religious groups.

49
Q

CHALLENGES TO NATURALISM - issue with Theological naturalism

A

Particularly for Theological naturalists that believe that God’s will is good. This may apply less and less to people in modern society as 7% of the world’s population is atheist (No belief).

50
Q

CHALLENGES TO NATURALISM

A
51
Q

How do naturalists acknowledge that something is right or wrong?

A

We can examine (observe and analyse) morals in the same way as we examine other features of the universe (such as maths and science).
Morals are part of the natural world and we discover them through reason (observe and analysis)

RS 2 ETHICS (3 decks)

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