11. Meta ethics: Prescriptivism
- 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)
- But express our wills or wishes
- 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
- 'you ought to do this'
- 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
- Rejects idea morals are universal
- 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
- By saying 'put yourself in others shoes'
- 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
- Outline
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