2.7.3

Emotivism

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Emotivism

Emotivism argues that ethical statements express personal feelings, not objective truths.

Understanding emotivism

Understanding emotivism

  • A.J. Ayer introduced emotivism in the 1930s with "Language, Truth and Logic."
  • Emotivism suggests moral language functions to influence or express emotions rather than state facts.
  • Emotivism differs from naturalism by rejecting the notion that ethics are grounded in natural properties.
Emotivism and moral language

Emotivism and moral language

  • Emotivism states that when people declare something 'good' or 'bad,' they express approval or disapproval.
  • Ethical statements are comparable to exclamations or commands, not factual assertions.
    • Saying "Stealing is wrong" equals expressing "Boo to stealing!"
  • Emotivism highlights how ethical language aims to persuade or communicate attitudes.
Emotivism and relativism

Emotivism and relativism

  • Emotivism aligns with relativism by implying that moral values vary between individuals.
    • There are no universal ethical truths, as moral judgements reflect personal preferences.
  • Moral disagreements arise not from factual differences but from emotional clashes.
  • Emotivism supports relativism's idea that moral standards depend on individual perspectives.
Criticisms of emotivism

Criticisms of emotivism

  • Critics argue emotivism makes moral debates subjective, reducing meaningful moral discourse.
    • C.L. Stevenson, a later proponent, acknowledged emotions' role but added reasons to justify attitudes.
  • Critics claim emotivism fails to address moral education and improvement, as emotional expressions differ widely.
  • Emotivism is challenged for not providing a method to resolve conflicting moral emotions.
Example of emotivism in action

Example of emotivism in action

  • Consider someone saying, "Helping others is good."
    • Emotivism suggests this reflects personal approval of helping.
  • The statement does not provide objective evidence but expresses positive feelings towards altruism.
    • Another person might say, "Helping others is unnecessary," evincing disapproval.
  • The example shows emotivism's focus on emotional expression in ethical language.
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1

Philosophy of Religion

1.1

Ancient Philosophical Influences: Plato

1.1.1Plato's Understanding of Reality1.1.2Plato's Theory of Forms1.1.3Plato's Analogy of the Cave1.1.4The Purpose of Plato's Analogy of the Cave1.1.5Evaluation of Plato's Theories
1.2

Ancient Philosophical Influences: Aristotle

1.2.1Aristotle's Understanding of Reality1.2.2Aristotle's Four Causes1.2.3Aristotle's Prime Mover
1.3

Ancient Philosophical Influences: Soul, Mind, Body

1.3.1Plato & Aristotle's Views of the Soul1.3.2Metaphysics of Consciousness1.3.3Materialism - Ryle’s Philosophical Behaviourism1.3.4Materialism - Identity Theory
1.4

The Existence of God - Arguments from Observation

1.4.1The Teleological Argument - Aquinas' Fifth Way1.4.2The Teleological Argument - Paley & Evolution1.4.3The Cosmological Argument1.4.4Hume's Criticisms: Teleological & Cosmological
1.5

The Existence of God - Arguments from Reason

1.5.1The Ontological Argument1.5.2Criticisms of the Ontological Argument
1.6

Religious Experience

1.6.1Introduction to Religious Experience1.6.2Mystical Experience1.6.3Conversion Experience1.6.4Understanding Religious Experience1.6.5Issues Relating to Religious Experience - Validity1.6.6Issues Relating to Religious Experiences - People
1.7

The Problem of Evil

1.7.1Presentations of the Problems of Evil1.7.2Discussion Points -
1.8

The Nature & Attributes of God

1.8.1Omnipotence1.8.2Omniscience1.8.3Boethius - Divine Knowledge, Free Will & Eternity1.8.4(Omni)benevolence1.8.5Eternity & Free Will
1.9

Religious Language: Negative, Analogical, Symbolic

1.9.1Apophatic & Cataphatic Way1.9.2Symbol1.9.3Discussion Points: Religious Language
1.10

Religious Language: 20th Century Perspective

1.10.1Logical Positivism & Verification Principle1.10.2Wittgenstein1.10.3Falsification Symposium: Flew & Hare1.10.4Falsification Symposium: Mitchell1.10.5Discussion Points: Verification & Falsification1.10.6Discussion Points: Aquinas vs Wittgenstein
2

Religion & Ethics

2.1

Natural Law

2.1.1St Thomas Aquinas - Telos & Four Tiers of Law2.1.2St Thomas Aquinas - Precepts2.1.3St Thomas Aquinas - Real & Apparent Goods2.1.4Discussion Points - Natural Law & Doing Good2.1.5Discussion Points - Telos & Double Effect Doctrine
2.2

Situation Ethics

2.2.1Fletcher's Situation Ethics2.2.2Fletcher's Concept of Conscience2.2.3Discussion Points: Moral Decision-Making2.2.4Discussion Points - Agape
2.3

Kantian Ethics

2.3.1Introduction to Kantian Ethics & Duty2.3.2Hypothetical & Categorical Imperative2.3.3Summum Bonum & Three Postulates2.3.4Discussion Points: Kantian Ethics
2.4

Utilitarianism

2.4.1The Utility Principle2.4.2Act & Rule Utilitarianism2.4.3Discussion Points: Utilitarianism
2.5

Euthanasia

2.5.1Key Concepts for Euthanasia Debates2.5.2Discussion Points: Natural Law & Situation Ethics2.5.3Discussion Points: Sanctity of Life2.5.4Discussion Points: Autonomy & Medical Intervention
2.6

Business Ethics

2.6.1Corporate Social Responsibility & Whistle-Blowing2.6.2Good Ethics & Globalisation2.6.3Discussion Points: Utilitarianism & Kantian Ethics2.6.4Discussion Points: CSR, Globalisation & Capitalism
2.7

Meta-Ethical Theories

2.7.1Naturalism2.7.2Intuitionism2.7.3Emotivism2.7.4Meta-Ethics
2.8

Conscience

2.8.1Aquinas' Theological Approach2.8.2Freud's Psychological Approach2.8.3Comparing Aquinas & Freud
2.9

Sexual Ethics

2.9.1Sexual Ethics2.9.2Development of Religious Beliefs on Sexual Ethics2.9.3Application of Sexual Ethics2.9.4Examining Sexual Ethics
3

Developments in Christian Thought

3.1

Saint Augustine's Teachings

3.1.1Human Nature3.1.2Original Sin & God's Grace
3.2

Death & the Afterlife

3.2.1Heaven, Hell, & Purgatory3.2.2Different Interpretations of the Afterlife3.2.3Election3.2.4The Final Judgement3.2.5Discussion Points: Heaven, Hell & Purgatory
3.3

Knowledge of God's Existence

3.3.1Natural Knowledge3.3.2Revealed Knowledge in Faith, Grace, & Jesus Christ3.3.3Revealed Knowledge in the Bible & Church3.3.4Discussion Points: Reason & Belief in God3.3.5Discussion Points: The Fall & Trust in God
3.4

The Person of Jesus Christ

3.4.1Jesus Christ’s Authority as the Son of God3.4.2Jesus Christ’s Authority as a Teacher of Wisdom3.4.3Jesus Christ’s Authority as a Liberator
3.5

Christian Moral Principles

3.5.1The Bible & Love3.5.2Bible, Church & Reason3.5.3Discussion Points: Christian Ethics3.5.4Discussion Points: Love & the Bible
3.6

Christian Moral Action

3.6.1Dietrich Bonhoeffer & the Confessing Church3.6.2Bonhoeffer & Civil Disobedience3.6.3Bonhoeffer's Teaching on Ethics as Action3.6.4Discussion Points: Civil Disobedience & Bonhoeffer
3.7

Development - Pluralism & Theology

3.7.1Pluralism & Theology: Exclusivism & Inclusivism3.7.2Pluralism & Theology: Pluralism3.7.3Discussion Points: Salvation3.7.4Discussion Points: Pluralism Undermining Beliefs
3.8

Development - Pluralism & Society

3.8.1Development of Multi-Faith Societies3.8.2Responses to Inter-Faith Dialogue3.8.3The Scriptural Reasoning Movement3.8.4Discussion Points: Social Cohesion & Scripture3.8.5Discussion Points: Conversion
3.9

Gender & Society

3.9.1Waves of Feminism3.9.2Traditional Christian Views on Gender Roles3.9.3Christian Views on Gender Roles & Family3.9.4Discussion Points: Secular Views of Gender3.9.5Discussion Points: Motherhood & Family
3.10

Gender & Theology

3.10.1Rosemary Radford Ruether3.10.2Mary Daly3.10.3Discussion Points: Ruether & Daly3.10.4Discussion Points: Male Saviour & Female God
3.11

Challenges

3.11.1Secularism - Sigmund Freud3.11.2Secularism - Richard Dawkins3.11.3Christianity & Public Life3.11.4Discussion Points: Spiritual Values3.11.5Discussion Points: Social Values & Opportunities3.11.6Karl Marx3.11.7Liberation Theology

Practice questions on Emotivism

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  1. 1
    How does emotivism differ from naturalism?Multiple choice
  2. 2
    What three elements did A.J. Ayer introduce emotivism with?Fill in the list
  3. 3
    When emotivism argues that moral values vary between individuals, which school of thought does it align to?Multiple choice
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Intuitionism

Meta-Ethics