Meta-Ethics
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NORMATIVE ETHICS
Tries to show how we should behave
The statement: ‘Abortion is wrong’ – Explores how valid the statement is, and whether it is right or wrong
META ETHICS
Explores the language used in ethical statements
The Statement: ‘Abortion is wrong’ – Explores what we mean when we say it is wrong
THE COGNITIVE APPROACH
If something can be known, it is available to cognition (knowledge)
• Ethical statements are about facts
• Ethical statements are propositional just like non-ethical statements, there are verifiable
• It is possible to define good
Cognitive Approaches:
1) Ethical Naturalism
2) Intuitionism
THE NON-COGNITIVE APPROACH
Ethical language is not the subject of cognition
• It is not possible to verify an ethical statement using facts
• Ethical statements are not propositional like non-ethical statements
• It is not possible to define good
• Ethical statements are merely expressions of one’s opinions or preferences
Non-cognitive Approaches:
1) Logical Positivism
2) Emotivism
3) Prescriptivism
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