Question 1
Question
What is meta-ethics?
Question 2
Question
What do ethical naturalists believe?
Answer
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We can define good in a non-moral, natural way
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We cannot define good in a non-moral, natural way
Question 3
Question
What do ethical non-naturalists believe?
Answer
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We can define good in a non-moral, natural way.
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We cannot define good in a non-moral, natural way.
Question 4
Question
How would ethical naturalists describe moral truths?
Answer
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cognitive and objective
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non-propositional
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factual and realist
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non-reductionist
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propositional
Question 5
Question
How would ethical non-naturalists describe moral truths?
Question 6
Question
What is Hume's book called?
Answer
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Principia Ethica
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Language, Truth and Logic
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Dialogues of Natural Religion
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Summa Theologica
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A Treatise of Human Nature
Question 7
Question
Hume was an ethical non-naturalist
Question 8
Question
Explain the 'is-ought' gap?
Answer
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You can't move from a descriptive (is) statement to a prescriptive (ought) statement. This would be logically invalid because factual statements don't lead to value judgements.
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Explains how there is no moral knowledge because it is neither synthetic or analytic.
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Moral knowledge does exist but we cannot jump from 'is' to 'ought'. We have to go from 'ought' to 'is'
Question 9
Question
Explain Hume's Fork.
Answer
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What Hume used to eat dinner.
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Hume's Fork demonstrates Hume's belief that knowledge can be either synthetic or analytic. Since morality is neither, it cannot be knowledge. Thus morality is only a belief and has no place on the fork.
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Descriptive statements do not lead to a prescriptive statement.
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We cannot intuit good
Question 10
Question
What is the oranges example by Tyler and what does it show?
Answer
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The example of oranges says that we should eat oranges because they contain vitamin C.
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The oranges examples demonstrates the is-ought gap. Just because oranges contain vitamin C (descriptive statement) doesn't meant that we ought to eat them (prescriptive statement).
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Tyler argues that we shouldn't have to eat oranges because some people are allergic.
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The oranges example explains how simple terms, such as orange, cannot be reduced or broken down into separate definitions.
Question 11
Question
What is Moore's book called?
Question 12
Question
Moore is an ethical naturalist.
Question 13
Question
Explain the naturalistic fallacy.
Answer
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We commit the naturalistic fallacy when we try to define good. Good is a unique term that cannot be defined.
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It is illogical to move from a factual statement to a value judgement because they are unrelated.
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We commit the naturalistic fallacy when we define good because good is a complex term that can be defined.
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We commit the naturalistic fallacy when we try to define bad, since it cannot be defined.
Question 14
Question
What is Moore's quote about good?
Answer
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"Good is good and that is the end of the matter"
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"self-control is essential"
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"This change is imperceptible; but is, however, of the last consequence."
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"Good is good and that is that"
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"Good is an illusion"
Question 15
Question
Explain Moore's Open Question Argument.
Answer
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The Open Question Argument is used to challenge ethical naturalism.
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A closed question, such as is a bachelor an unmarried man?, has the answer contained in the question.
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An open question, such as is pleasure really good?, has the answer contained in the question.
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An open question, such as is pleasure really good?, doesn't have the answer within the question.
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Moore uses Open Questions to support his argument.
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Every attempt at defining good leaves us with an open question and this shows the failure of ethical naturalism.
Question 16
Question
Despite being an ethical non-naturalist, what does Moore believe that is different from Hume?
Answer
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Objective moral truths exist.
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Good can be defined.
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Moral knowledge exists.
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Objective moral truths don't exist.
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Moral knowledge is cognitive, realist and propositional.
Question 17
Question
Moore believes that we intuit what is good and thus although we cannot define good, we can understand good.
Question 18
Question
Objective moral truths exists, according to Moore.
Question 19
Question
What is Moore's quote about intuitionism and moral knowledge.
Answer
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"Good is good and that is the end of the matter"
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"good is rather like yellow"
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"always look on the bright side of life"
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"infallible, intuitive knowledge"
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"intuitive, infallible knowledge"
Question 20
Question
Moore believes that we can define good because it is a simple term.
Question 21
Question
What colour does Moore compare with good in order to explain simple terms?
Answer
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Orange
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Purple
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Gold
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Yellow
Question 22
Question
What is Moore's example of a complex term that can be reduced down into a definition?
Question 23
Question
Intuitionism is a cognitive theory.
Question 24
Question
We use our intuition to work out what is good and therefore it is self-evident.
Question 25
Question
Moore is a traditional intuitionist
Question 26
Question
Tick three strengths of intuitionism.
Answer
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Avoids naturalistic fallacy
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We intuit differently
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Intuitionism motivates us to act morally
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Satisfies the moral absolutist
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Intuitionism removes the confusion and ambiguity of trying to define good. Deciding on a right action is simplified as we intuit what is good.
Question 27
Question
Tick three weaknesses of Intuitionism.
Answer
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We can't know if our intuition is correct.
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Intuitionism doesn't satisfy the moral absolutist.
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It is a form of realism.
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We can't clarify what intuition is. Is it a conscience or a gut feeling?
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Intuitionism doesn't motivate us morally.
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We have a common intuition.
Question 28
Question
Who created emotivism?
Answer
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Hume
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Moore
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Bentham
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Ayer
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Stevenson
Question 29
Question
Tick two things that Ayer believed about intuitionism.
Answer
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Ayer disagrees with intuitionism because it is subjective.
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Intuitionism can be verified.
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Intuitionism cannot be empirically verified.
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Ayer preferred Hume's Fork.
Question 30
Question
What was Ayer's book called?
Answer
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Language, Logic and Truth
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Truth, Logic and Language
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Truth, Language and Logic
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Language, Truth and Logic
Question 31
Question
Ayer believes ethical terms cannot be verified because they are "pseudo-concepts" and cannot be analysed.
Question 32
Question
According to Ayer, ethical terms add something to factual content because they are valuable.
Question 33
Question
Tick two quotes by Ayer that describe what ethical terms are.
Answer
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"moral sentiment"
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"Good is good and that is the end of the matter"
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"Good is good and that is that"
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"verbal ejaculation"
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"good is rather like yellow"
Question 34
Question
Explain the Ayer's 'boo-hurrah' theory.
Answer
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Ethical terms are just expressions of our emotions. For example, saying stealing is wrong is just a 'boo' and saying sharing is right is a 'hurrah'. There is no factual value to ethical terms.
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Ayer believes that intuitionism is 'boo' and emotivism is 'hurrah'
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The 'boo-hurrah' theory is used to demonstrate how ethical terms can be verified and have emotional value.
Question 35
Question
Stevenson developed Ayer's emotivism.
Question 36
Question
What is Stevenson's essay called?
Answer
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The Emotive Meaning of Ethical Terms
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Principia Ethica
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A Treatise of Human Nature
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Modern Moral Philosophy
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Emotivism: The Book
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The Emotional Meaning of Ethical Terms
Question 37
Question
Stevenson believes that ethical statements have two purposes. Tick the correct two purposes.
Answer
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Ethical statements add to factual content.
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Ethical statements express our own psychological beliefs/attitudes.
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Ethical statements are unverifiable.
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Ethical statements are an attempt to persuade others of our feeling.
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Ethical statements are an attempt to discourage people thinking.
Question 38
Question
Stevenson's theory is different from Ayer's emotivism because it gives meaning to ethical language.
Question 39
Question
Tick three strengths of emotivism.
Answer
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Emotivism is just a shouting match of emotions.
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Emotivism acknowledges different moral views.
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Stevenson gives purpose and meaning to ethical language and his argument makes sense.
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We are able to remove reason from moral judgements.
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Emotivism explains why moral disputes are impossible to resolve because they are impossible to prove/verify
Question 40
Question
Tick three weaknesses of emotivism. (Hint: This can include any criticisms made by scholars)
Answer
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Barclay believes we need laws in our society to avoid chaos so we cannot just rely on emotion.
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Emotivism helps us express ourselves.
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MacIntyre criticises emotivism because it is just a shouting match of emotivism
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Emotivism rejects moral absolutes and is subjective
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Emotivism is boring and doesn't make sense.
Question 41
Question
Ayer's quote criticising intuitionism.
Answer
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"Good is good and that is the end of that"
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"a mere appeal to intuition is worthless as a test of a proposition's validity"
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"Good is good and that is that"
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"Verification is the only way"