2.7.4

Meta-Ethics

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Meta-Ethics

Meta-ethics examines the nature and meaning of ethical terms and concepts.

Exploring meta-ethics

Exploring meta-ethics

  • The term 'good' often acts as a central question in ethical discussion.
  • Meta-ethics explores whether ethical terms have objective truth or rely on subjective perception.
    • The field also considers whether people inherently know what is good or bad.
Defining ‘good’ in meta-ethics

Defining ‘good’ in meta-ethics

  • Philosophers like G.E. Moore (1903) contributed to defining 'good' in meta-ethics.
    • Moore claimed 'good' is a simple, indefinable property, known intuitively.
  • Critics argue knowing the meaning of 'good' is not crucial for ethical understanding.
  • Debates continue over whether defining 'good' resolves moral disagreements.
Objective vs. subjective ethical terms

Objective vs. subjective ethical terms

  • Ethical naturalists claim terms like 'good' have objective factual bases, making them true or false.
  • Emotivists argue these terms reflect personal feelings, devoid of factual content.
  • The debate addresses if ethics consist of real properties or subjective expressions.
    • This issue raises questions about moral realism versus anti-realism in ethics.

Meaningfulness of ethical terms

  • Logical positivists like A.J. Ayer (1936) argued ethical terms are meaningless as they lack empirical verification.
  • Others contend ethical discourse remains meaningful through shared social insights and experiences.
  • The meaningfulness debate impacts how people understand and communicate moral truths.
    • Philosophers seek clarity on if ethical language conveys genuine knowledge.
Innate knowledge

Innate knowledge

  • Some argue moral knowledge is innate, evident through common-sense intuitions.
  • Others believe cultural and environmental factors shape moral understanding.
  • Intuitionists claim moral truths are self-evident, while empiricists see them as learned.
    • This discussion explores the origins and reliability of moral knowledge.
Example: Defining 'good' in practice

Example: Defining 'good' in practice

  • Imagine discussing whether charity work is 'good.'
    • A naturalist might argue charity reflects objective moral duties, making it 'good.'
    • An emotivist claims "good" expresses approval, showing personal feelings rather than facts.
  • This scenario demonstrates varied interpretations of 'good' within meta-ethical frameworks.
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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

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Emotivism

Aquinas' Theological Approach