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Single Idea 6968
[filed under theme 22. Metaethics / A. Ethics Foundations / 1. Nature of Ethics / b. Defining ethics
]
Full Idea
If someone wishes to say that ethical statements are statements of fact, only it is a queer sort of fact, he is welcome to do so.
Gist of Idea
Some people think there are ethical facts, but of a 'queer' sort
Source
A.J. Ayer (On the analysis of moral judgements [1949], p.233)
Book Ref
Ayer,A.J.: 'Philosophical Essays' [Macmillan 1965], p.233
A Reaction
The word 'queer' was picked up by Mackie and developed into his error theory, that moral facts are a misunderstanding. Personally I think that moral facts might be teleological facts, but that is rather hard to demonstrate.
The
15 ideas
with the same theme
[can we specify exactly what ethics is?]:
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2141
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I suggest that we forget about trying to define goodness itself for the time being
[Plato]
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19582
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Morality and philosophy are mutually dependent
[Novalis]
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14784
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Ethics is the science of aims
[Peirce]
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7136
|
Morality is a system of values which accompanies a being's life
[Nietzsche]
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8039
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Moore tries to show that 'good' is indefinable, but doesn't understand what a definition is
[MacIntyre on Moore,GE]
|
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2943
|
Ethics cannot be put into words
[Wittgenstein]
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6968
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Some people think there are ethical facts, but of a 'queer' sort
[Ayer]
|
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6972
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A right attitude is just an attitude one is prepared to stand by
[Ayer]
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22445
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Morality shows murder is wrong, but not what counts as a murder
[Foot]
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7419
|
Ethics is the conscious practice of freedom
[Foucault]
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5319
|
Avoid punishment, then get rewards, avoid rejection, avoid guilt, accept contracts, follow conscience
[Kohlberg, by Wilson,EO]
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4003
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Selfhood and moral values are inextricably intertwined
[Taylor,C]
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20289
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Ethics is universalisable - it must involve an impartial and universal view of things
[Singer]
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18665
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Moral problems are responsibility conflicts, needing contextual and narrative attention to relationships
[Gilligan]
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21788
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The moral will is self-determining, but the ethical will is met in society
[Houlgate]
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