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Single Idea 22487

[filed under theme 22. Metaethics / B. Value / 1. Nature of Value / b. Fact and value ]

Full Idea

The grounding of a moral argument is ultimately in facts about human life.

Gist of Idea

Moral arguments are grounded in human facts

Source

Philippa Foot (Does Moral Subjectivism Rest on a Mistake? [1995], p.207)

Book Ref

Foot,Philippa: 'Moral Dilemmas' [OUP 2002], p.207

A Reaction

The best slogan I can find for summarising Foot's metaethics. The facts she refers to the basic human needs. She is right, and this almost bridges the fact-value divide (as long as you give a damn about human needs).

The 3 ideas from 'Does Moral Subjectivism Rest on a Mistake?'

22485 Non-cognitivists give the conditions of use of moral sentences as facts about the speaker [Foot]
22486 The mistake is to think good grounds aren't enough for moral judgement, which also needs feelings [Foot]
22487 Moral arguments are grounded in human facts [Foot]