Prescriptivism

• Key Scholar: R.M Hare
• Philosopher R.M Hare produced a meta-ethical theory that sought to make moral values objective.
• Non-cognitive and anti-realist theory
• R.M Hare agreed with A.J Ayer (emotivism) that there is no such thing as moral fact, but disagrees on what moral values are and what they do.
• "The main point of moral judgement is to guide conduct. For example: stealing is wrong implies the imperative (don't steal)'' - R.M Hare
• Ethical/moral statements are not just expressions of our feelings.
• Moral language is also prescriptive
• Moral judgements are action guiding. They prescribe what to do.
• Hare argues when we use ethical language we are fore-scribing what to do or recommending a course of action.
• The prescribed courses of action must be universal. When we say something is wrong, we universalise that statement.
• Moral judgements are meaningful when they can apply to everyone in a similar situation (universal).
• Strengths

  • Straight forward = moral statements can also have some influence on others.
  • If moral commands are universal, they are applicable to all and thus easy to follow.
  • It solves the emotivist issue of moral language being meaningless. - Instead they are prescribed actions.
• Weaknesses

  • J.L Mackie rejects the idea that morals are objective and universal. "Do unto others as you would have done unto yourself."