Meta-Ethics considers answers to these questions:

  1. What is the meaning of specific moral terms or judgments?
  2. What is the nature of moral propositions?
  3. How may moral judgments be supported or defended philosophically?


A chart of alternative positions about the truth of moral judgments constructed on the basis of answers to two diagnostic questions:

 1. Are any moral propositions true independently of personal attitudes?

(a list of sample moral claims)
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\
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V
V
Yes.
No.
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(OBJECTIVISM)

"Some are."

 (SUBJECTIVISM)

"None are."
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V
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a. Egoism (Hobbes)
Moral Universalism
b. Emotivism (Hume, Ayer)
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c. Intuitionism (Moore, Ross)
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d. Moral Skepticism (Mackie)
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e. Moral Nihilism
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V

 2. What makes moral propositions true?
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 V
V

 Facts independent of anyone's say so...

 Someone's say-so

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 Whose?

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 (Moral Realism)

 (Conventionalism)

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 V
V

f. Duty-based ethics (Kant, Ross)

j. God(s) = Divine Command Theory, SEP

g. Consequence-based ethics (Hobbes, Bentham, Mill)

k. Society = Moral Relativism, SEP

h. Virtue ethics (Plato, Aristotle, Feminists), SEP

  

i. Ethical Naturalism, SEP

  

 

Object of Moral
Evaluation

 

Basis of judgment

Sample theories
     

ACTIONS, RULES

 (1) PROPERTIES  

— conforms to commands (Divine Command Ethics)
  — does not violate rights (Rights-based Ethics)
  — can be universalized (Kant's Duty-based Ethics)
     
     
  (2) CONSEQUENCES  
  — for the agent (Ethical Egoism)
  — for other people (Act Utilitarianism)
  — for standards (Rule Utilitarianism)
     
   

 
   

 
     

AGENT, PERSON

 (3) INTENTIONS  

— done because authorities will it (Authoritarian Ethics)
  — done for the sake of duty (Kant's Duty-based Ethics)
  — done for the sake of justice (Social Contract Ethics)
     
     
  (4) CHARACTER  
  — promotes human-interests (Anthropocentric Ethics)
  — promotes human flourishing (Virtue-based Ethics)
     

TOPICS

    
    1. egoism and altruism
    2. evolution and ethics
    3. genetics and ethics

 

 

 
     
   

 

How is Meta-Ethics different than Applied Ethics?