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Meta-ethics

Meta-ethics. Section 5 Naturalism & Non-naturalism. Naturalism & Non-naturalism. Theories that aspire to supply the basis for the moral truths claimed by moral realism & the moral knowledge claimed to be possible by moral cognitivism. Non-naturalism.

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Meta-ethics

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  1. Meta-ethics Section 5 Naturalism & Non-naturalism

  2. Naturalism & Non-naturalism • Theories that aspire to supply the basis for the moral truths claimed by moral realism & the moral knowledge claimed to be possible by moral cognitivism.

  3. Non-naturalism • Moral truths can be known not by reasoning from definitions or experience but intuitively. • Hard to see how such truths could be learned.

  4. Ethical Naturalism • Moral truths result from & are underpinned by natural facts, & the relevant facts are necessarily connected to the corresponding ethical truths & constitute them.

  5. Ontological naturalism: general metaphysical thesis about the nature of facts. Methodological naturalism: concerns how we may properly investigate them. Distinct From…

  6. Ontological & Methodological Naturalism • Both are consistent with ethical naturalism where they grant that moral propositions can be underpinned by natural facts (supervenience).

  7. Restrictive Versions • Restrictive versions of both these kinds of naturalism hold that there are no facts about desirability, rightness or reasons for action. • Conflict with ethical naturalism. • Moral realists need to reject these versions.

  8. Non-naturalism: regards the supervenience of ethical truths on natural ones as mysterious. Naturalism: (certain) natural truths constitute ethical ones. Necessarily related. Can Natural Facts Constitute Ethical Ones?

  9. What Kind of Facts are Relevant? • Philippa Foot — facts about causing harm are necessarily related to ethical conclusions. • Other examples include facts about animal suffering & welfare.

  10. Further Examples • John Searle — facts about words spoken can generate obligations, in the context of human institutions. • Obligations to keep promises. • Implicit benefits to human welfare of (some) institutions make the related obligations moral ones.

  11. Think About… • ways of reasoning from empirical facts to moral conclusions.

  12. Non-naturalism V Restrictive Forms • Non-naturalism is attractive when naturalism is interpreted in restrictive forms (since the latter preclude ethical truths). • But ethical naturalists need not endorse restrictive interpretations.

  13. Ethical Naturalism • Coheres with the accounts of ‘oughts’, moral motivation & moral goodness presented in the other Sections of this Chapter. • Coheres with the accounts of intrinsic value, rightness & moral obligation presented elsewhere in the book.

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