Meta-EthicsMeta-Ethics

EmotivismEmotivism

Normative Ethics Meta-ethicsNormative Ethics Meta-ethics

Subject matter is moral issues Subject matter is moral issues such as abortion, war, such as abortion, war, euthanasia etceuthanasia etc

Provides theories or Provides theories or frameworks which help people frameworks which help people to make a moral decisionto make a moral decision

Often referred to as a first Often referred to as a first order theory because it deals order theory because it deals with moral issueswith moral issues

Subject matter is not moral Subject matter is not moral issues but moral philosophy issues but moral philosophy itselfitself

Often referred to as a second Often referred to as a second order theoryorder theory

Reflects on the more Reflects on the more fundamental aspects of fundamental aspects of moralitymorality

Meta ethical questions fall into Meta ethical questions fall into 3 categories: meta-physical, 3 categories: meta-physical, epistemological and linguistic epistemological and linguistic

Meta-ethics and meta-physicsMeta-ethics and meta-physics

Concerned with the nature of reality (Realism)Concerned with the nature of reality (Realism)Meta-physical questions could be “do moral properties exist?” “Is Meta-physical questions could be “do moral properties exist?” “Is there an objective moral truth?”there an objective moral truth?”Some realists argue that there are objective moral truthsSome realists argue that there are objective moral truthsObjective moral truths are those which are mind independent and Objective moral truths are those which are mind independent and not true because we believe they are truenot true because we believe they are trueWe are not free to decide for ourselves what is right or wrong (moral We are not free to decide for ourselves what is right or wrong (moral objectivism)objectivism)This view contrasts with moral subjectivism; this is people who This view contrasts with moral subjectivism; this is people who believe that there are no moral properties in the world, they are anti- believe that there are no moral properties in the world, they are anti- realistsrealistsAnti-realists do not believe that moral judgements state facts about Anti-realists do not believe that moral judgements state facts about the worldthe worldG.E. Moore was a moral objectivistG.E. Moore was a moral objectivist

Meta-ethics and EpistemologyMeta-ethics and Epistemology

Focuses on how knowledge is acquiredFocuses on how knowledge is acquired

An example of an epistemological question could be An example of an epistemological question could be “how do we know the difference between right and “how do we know the difference between right and wrong?”wrong?”

Questions the nature of moral truths and how knowledge Questions the nature of moral truths and how knowledge of them is acquiredof them is acquired

Meta-ethics and LanguageMeta-ethics and Language

Linguistic questions look at the nature of moral languageLinguistic questions look at the nature of moral language

An example of a linguistic ethical question could be: “what are we An example of a linguistic ethical question could be: “what are we doing when we make a moral claim such as ‘killing is wrong’doing when we make a moral claim such as ‘killing is wrong’

Language performs many functions such as stating a fact, Language performs many functions such as stating a fact, expressing an emotion or giving a commandexpressing an emotion or giving a command

Does ethical language fall into any of these categories?Does ethical language fall into any of these categories?

What function does ethical language perform?What function does ethical language perform?

Emotivism is a non-cognitive theory, cognitive theories are allied Emotivism is a non-cognitive theory, cognitive theories are allied with moral realism because they claim that moral statements are with moral realism because they claim that moral statements are factualfactual

Non cognitive theorists are committed to the view that moral; Non cognitive theorists are committed to the view that moral; statements do no state facts but instead are expressions of statements do no state facts but instead are expressions of emotionsemotions

EmotivismEmotivism

Philosophers associated with the theory are AJ Ayer and GL MoorePhilosophers associated with the theory are AJ Ayer and GL Moore