Meta-Ethics
Emotivism - ANS-moral statements are not statements of fact but expressions of
emotion.
A.J. Ayer - ANS-'the presence of an ethical symbol in a proposition adds nothing to its
factual content'.
Significant Language - ANS-The only language that is factually significant is cognitive,
either analytic or synthetic.
Implications of Emotivism - ANS-to render all ethical debate meaningless.
C.L Stevenson - ANS-statements have emotive meaning that is neither descriptive, nor
analytic, introducing prescriptivism. Attitudes are based on beliefs. Disagreements in
attitudes are caused by underlying convictions.
Prescriptivism - ANS-RM Hare whose aim was to create a meta-ethical theory that
objectified moral statements. Statements have evaluative meaning that can prescribe
behaviour. The aim of ethical debate is prescribing one's viewpoint to others until it is
objectively accepted and defined this as 'universalisability'.
This is similar to the New Testament idea of 'treat others as you would like to be
treated'
Criticism of Emotivism - ANS-cannot be empirically verified to confirm their validity.
Having ethical values derived solely from emotion is an unsound basis for living.
Vardy & Grosch - ANS-Criticised Emotivism for reducing ethical debate to 'so much hot
air', arguing that its contribution to ethical language is not valuable because it reduces it
to nothing. However, they confuse emotivism with simple subjectivism failing to
recognise that Ayer did not intend to provide a methodology for moral decision making.
F.H. Bradley - ANS-suggests that there is a link between science and morality and
meta-ethical statements can be defined in scientific terms. This is Naturalism.
Strengths of Naturalism - ANS-It could overcome moral disputes because followers
Emotivism - ANS-moral statements are not statements of fact but expressions of
emotion.
A.J. Ayer - ANS-'the presence of an ethical symbol in a proposition adds nothing to its
factual content'.
Significant Language - ANS-The only language that is factually significant is cognitive,
either analytic or synthetic.
Implications of Emotivism - ANS-to render all ethical debate meaningless.
C.L Stevenson - ANS-statements have emotive meaning that is neither descriptive, nor
analytic, introducing prescriptivism. Attitudes are based on beliefs. Disagreements in
attitudes are caused by underlying convictions.
Prescriptivism - ANS-RM Hare whose aim was to create a meta-ethical theory that
objectified moral statements. Statements have evaluative meaning that can prescribe
behaviour. The aim of ethical debate is prescribing one's viewpoint to others until it is
objectively accepted and defined this as 'universalisability'.
This is similar to the New Testament idea of 'treat others as you would like to be
treated'
Criticism of Emotivism - ANS-cannot be empirically verified to confirm their validity.
Having ethical values derived solely from emotion is an unsound basis for living.
Vardy & Grosch - ANS-Criticised Emotivism for reducing ethical debate to 'so much hot
air', arguing that its contribution to ethical language is not valuable because it reduces it
to nothing. However, they confuse emotivism with simple subjectivism failing to
recognise that Ayer did not intend to provide a methodology for moral decision making.
F.H. Bradley - ANS-suggests that there is a link between science and morality and
meta-ethical statements can be defined in scientific terms. This is Naturalism.
Strengths of Naturalism - ANS-It could overcome moral disputes because followers
