11. Meta ethics: Prescriptivism

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  • Created by: Alasdair
  • Created on: 25-06-17 22:51
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  • 11. Prescriptivism
    • Outline
      • Do not state facts
      • Not true or false
        • But express our wills or wishes
          • Imperatives (must do's)
      • R. M. Hare
        • 'The Language of Morals'
        • Moral issues move beyond our individual viewpoint in order to universalise a view
        • Such prescriptions are moral because they are universal
        • Not only good for us, but everyone else
          • Hare's universalisability
      • Ethical statements say what 'ought' to be done
        • 'you ought to do this'
          • Means everyone should do the same in similar situations
        • 'A good chair is one that supports your back'
          • Descriptive meaning (describing the chair)
        • 'Giving to charity is good'
          • Prescriptive meaning (Prescribing - recommending behaviour)
        • By using the word 'good' in an ethical way is to use it prescriptively
          • This really means 'giving to charity is good so I ought to do it as well'
        • Ethical language is prescriptive
    • Weaknesses
      • Moral judgements that are found on prescriptions mean that there is no valid reason why we should follow one person's prescriptions more than another's
      • Prescription can justify any moral behaviour
        • e.g. 'It is right to create an Aryan race'
      • J. L. Mackie
        • Rejects idea morals are universal
          • Your preferences may be different from mine and so universalistic rule 'do unto others as you would have do unto yourself' may not be helpful
      • Special situations that require different approach to moral rules
      • Hard defends
        • By saying 'put yourself in others shoes'
          • Not very successful reply when looking at modern day suicide bombers for example
    • Strengths
      • Made case for moral statements having universal and prescriptive qualities while accounting for work done on ethical language by Ayer and Stevenson
      • Seems beneficial for moral statements to have some influence on others

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