2.3.1 Moral realism

• What is the main focus of meta-ethics as opposed to normative or applied ethics?

  Underlying concepts of morality
• What do moral realists compare moral truths to in their objectivity?

  Scientific facts
• Meta-ethics is a branch of philosophy that examines the nature of moral properties, statements, and judgments
• What is the central claim of moral realism regarding moral facts?

  They exist objectively
• Moral realists believe that objective moral values exist independently of individual or cultural beliefs
• What is the fundamental contrast between moral realism and moral anti-realism?

  Objectivity vs subjectivity
• What is the central claim of moral realism regarding moral truths?

  They are objective and mind-independent
• Moral realism is the view that moral facts and properties exist independently of what any individual or culture believes
• Moral realists believe that objective moral values are mind-independent
• One argument for moral realism compares ethics to a natural science
• Moral realists struggle to provide empirical evidence for moral facts
• What does meta-ethics investigate?

  Moral concepts and truths
• A moral realist would argue that torture is objectively wrong
• What is the key distinction between moral realism and moral anti-realism?

  Objectivity vs. subjectivity
• Moral realists believe moral claims cannot be tested or verified empirically.

  False
• What does naturalistic moral realism claim about moral facts?

  Reducible to scientific facts
• What are the two main forms of moral realism?

  Naturalistic and non-naturalistic
• How do naturalistic moral realists explain moral facts?

  Through empirical investigation
• What do moral realists believe about moral facts and properties?

  They exist objectively
• What does meta-ethics study in moral philosophy?

  Moral concepts and judgments
• Meta-ethics explores the meaning behind moral principles developed by normative ethics.


  True
• Match the meta-ethical view with its description:

  Moral Realism ↔️ Moral facts exist objectively

  Moral Relativism ↔️ Moral facts are relative to cultures

  Moral Subjectivism ↔️ Moral facts depend on individual feelings

  Moral Nihilism ↔️ There are no objective moral facts
• What role does meta-ethics play in moral theory?

  Clarifies the meaning of morality
• Match the meta-ethical view with its description:

  Moral Realism ↔️ Moral facts exist objectively

  Moral Relativism ↔️ Moral facts are relative to cultures

  Moral Subjectivism ↔️ Moral facts depend on individual feelings

  Moral Nihilism ↔️ There are no objective moral facts
• What is the key difference between moral realism and moral relativism regarding moral facts?

  Moral realism sees them objectively
• Moral anti-realism holds that moral facts are based on individual opinions, feelings, or cultural norms
• Match the meta-ethical view with its description:

  Moral Realism ↔️ Moral facts exist objectively

  Moral Relativism ↔️ Moral facts are relative to cultures

  Moral Subjectivism ↔️ Moral facts depend on individual feelings

  Moral Nihilism ↔️ There are no objective moral facts
• Moral realists argue that murder is objectively wrong.

  True
• Moral principles based on scientific reasoning align with moral realism.


  True
• Moral anti-realists believe moral facts are empirically verifiable.

  False
• What is the focus of meta-ethics in moral philosophy?

  Moral concepts and language
• Meta-ethics focuses on the meaning of moral terms
• What characterizes objective moral values?

  Independence from beliefs
• Moral realism supports the idea that ethics can be studied as a natural science
• Why does the problem of disagreement challenge moral realism?

  Widespread moral disagreements exist
• Naturalistic moral realists believe moral properties are objective but non-scientific.

  False
• Naturalistic moral realism states that moral facts are reducible to natural, scientific facts
• A naturalistic moral realist might argue that the moral value of honesty can be explained by its beneficial social and psychological effects
• Moral relativism asserts that moral facts are relative to individuals or cultures
• Moral realists believe in the objective existence of moral facts, while others see morality as subjective or relative.


  True