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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?]:
2141
|
I suggest that we forget about trying to define goodness itself for the time being
[Plato]
|
19582
|
Morality and philosophy are mutually dependent
[Novalis]
|
14784
|
Ethics is the science of aims
[Peirce]
|
7136
|
Morality is a system of values which accompanies a being's life
[Nietzsche]
|
8039
|
Moore tries to show that 'good' is indefinable, but doesn't understand what a definition is
[MacIntyre on Moore,GE]
|
2943
|
Ethics cannot be put into words
[Wittgenstein]
|
6968
|
Some people think there are ethical facts, but of a 'queer' sort
[Ayer]
|
6972
|
A right attitude is just an attitude one is prepared to stand by
[Ayer]
|
22445
|
Morality shows murder is wrong, but not what counts as a murder
[Foot]
|
7419
|
Ethics is the conscious practice of freedom
[Foucault]
|
5319
|
Avoid punishment, then get rewards, avoid rejection, avoid guilt, accept contracts, follow conscience
[Kohlberg, by Wilson,EO]
|
4003
|
Selfhood and moral values are inextricably intertwined
[Taylor,C]
|
20289
|
Ethics is universalisable - it must involve an impartial and universal view of things
[Singer]
|
18665
|
Moral problems are responsibility conflicts, needing contextual and narrative attention to relationships
[Gilligan]
|
21788
|
The moral will is self-determining, but the ethical will is met in society
[Houlgate]
|