MP : Meta-ethics

• What is the main focus of Aristotle's virtue ethics?

  To reason and achieve eudaimonia

  
• How does Aristotle define virtues?

  Character traits that enable fulfilling ergon
• What is eudaimonia in Aristotle's virtue ethics?

  The ultimate goal of a virtuous person

  
• What dilemma might a judge face according to Aristotle's virtue ethics?

  Choosing between justice and mercy
• What does Aristotle say about conflicts between virtues?

  They are impossible due to virtue flexibility
• How might a virtuous judge apply phronesis?

  By balancing justice and mercy appropriately
• What is the difference between moral good and eudaimonia according to Aristotle?

  Eudaimonia includes more than just morality

  
• What example illustrates the difference between moral good and eudaimonia?

  A nurse who saves lives but is unhappy
• What objections can be made against Aristotle's theory regarding moral good and eudaimonia?

  It fails to account for self-interest

  
• How does Aristotle respond to the objection about moral good and eudaimonia?

  He focuses on the good life in general

  
• What virtues does Aristotle consider important for achieving eudaimonia?

  Fairness, kindness, and generosity

  
• What is metaethics concerned with?

  The meaning of moral judgments and their truth

  
• What are the two main debates in metaethics?

  Existence of moral properties and meaning of judgments
• What is moral realism?

  Existence of mind-independent moral properties
• What is moral anti-realism?

  No mind-independent moral properties exist
• What does cognitivism assert about moral judgments?

  They express beliefs that can be true or false
• What does non-cognitivism claim about moral judgments?

  They express non-cognitive mental states

  
• What are the two types of moral realist theories?

  Moral naturalism and moral non-naturalism
• How does moral naturalism define moral properties?

  As natural properties that can be reduced
• What is utilitarian moral naturalism?

  Good reduces to pleasure, bad to pain

  
• What is Mill's proof of utilitarianism about?

  Happiness is the only good
• How does virtue ethics relate to moral naturalism?

  It can be seen as a form of moral naturalism

  
• What does moral non-naturalism claim about moral properties?

  They are basic and non-reducible properties

  
• What is G.E. Moore's naturalistic fallacy?

  Equating goodness with natural properties

  
• What is the open question argument?

  Questions about goodness and pleasure remain open
• How does intuitionism explain knowledge of moral properties?

  Through a faculty of rational intuition
• What is J.L. Mackie's critique of intuitionism?

  It fails to explain how we know moral properties
• What is the main issue with non-naturalism regarding moral properties?

  Non-natural moral properties are hard to explain.
• What is Moore's solution to the issue of non-natural properties?

  Intuitionism

  
• How does Moore's intuitionism explain moral judgments?

  Through a faculty of rational intuition.

  
• What does J.L. Mackie think about Moore's intuitionism?

  Mackie calls it a "lame answer."
• What does Mackie argue about acquiring knowledge of moral properties?

  It is utterly different from ordinary knowledge.
• What are the responses to moral non-naturalism mentioned?

  • Argument from queerness
  • Verification principle

  
• What are the responses to moral realism mentioned?

  • Argument from relativity
  • Hume’s arguments against cognitivism
  • The is/ought problem
  • Verification principle

  
• What do anti-realist metaethical theories argue?

  Mind-independent moral properties do not exist.

  
• What are the three anti-realist metaethical theories discussed?

  • Error theory
  • Emotivism
  • Prescriptivism
• What does error theory claim about moral judgments?

  All moral judgments are false.
• How does Mackie define error theory?

  As cognitivism plus anti-realism.

  
• What does Mackie argue about cultural differences in moral beliefs?

  They suggest mind-independent moral properties don't exist.

  
• What example does Mackie use to illustrate cultural moral differences?

  Polygamy acceptance varies by culture.