Meta-ethics

• What does naturalism claim about moral properties?

  Moral properties are natural properties.
• How does naturalism relate to moral realism?

  Naturalism is a form of moral realism.
• What is Bentham's view on goodness?

  Goodness is pleasure.
• What does utilitarian naturalism express through ethical language?

  It expresses beliefs about pleasure maximization.
• What is the is/ought gap according to Hume?

  Factual statements do not entail moral oughts.
• What does Hume argue about ethical judgments?

  They come from our feelings.
• What do modern virtue ethicists claim about goodness?

  Goodness is flourishing (eudaimonia).
• How does Foot illustrate the relationship between 'ought' and 'is'?

  She compares it to a plant's needs for flourishing.
• What is MacIntyre's critique of modern morality?

  It uproots moral concepts from communal practice.
• What are G. E. Moore's two arguments against naturalism?

  The naturalistic fallacy and the open question argument.
• What does the naturalistic fallacy claim?

  Assuming natural means good is a fallacy.
• What does the open question argument suggest?

  Goodness cannot be defined by natural properties.
• How does Moore describe goodness?

  Goodness is a non-natural property.
• What analogy does Moore use to explain goodness?

  Goodness is like the color yellow.
• How does intuitionism relate to moral disagreement?

  Intuitionists argue intuition explains moral disagreement.
• What does Mackie argue about moral intuitions?

  They reflect social conditioning.
• What is Ayer's verification principle?

  A statement is meaningful if verifiable.
• How does Ayer view ethical language?

  It expresses emotions, not truths.
• What is the concern with moral nihilism?

  It may lead to societal collapse.
• How does Foot critique Ayer's rejection of morality?

  She argues it enables atrocities like the Holocaust.
• What is Mackie's position on moral realism?

  He argues it is false due to social conditioning.
• How does Mackie illustrate ethical language?

  It expresses beliefs about reality.
• What are the key features of naturalism in meta-ethics?

  • Moral properties are natural properties.
  • It is a form of moral realism.
  • Ethical language expresses beliefs about pleasure maximization.
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of intuitionism?

  Strengths:

  • Cross-cultural moral agreement suggests shared intuition.
  • Intuition explains moral disagreement based on understanding.

  
  

  Weaknesses:

  • Descriptive moral relativism shows vast disagreements.
  • Moral intuitions may reflect social conditioning.
• What are the main critiques of emotivism?

  • Ethical language cannot be reduced to emotion.
  • The verification principle is self-defeating.
  • It may lead to moral nihilism.
• How does Ayer's theory relate to moral nihilism?

  • Ayer's theory suggests no objective morality.
  • This raises concerns about societal collapse.
  • Critics argue it enables atrocities like the Holocaust.
• What is the relationship between facts and values according to Foot?

  • Foot argues facts and values are interconnected.
  • This challenges Hume and Ayer's separation.
  • It supports the idea that values can be verified.