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All 8 Flashcards — Moral realism vs anti-realism
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Question
Moral realism?
Answer
The view that there are real moral facts, true independently of what any person or culture believes.
Question
Anti-realism (about morality)?
Answer
The view that there are no mind-independent moral facts; moral claims express human attitudes, not facts.
Question
Objectivism vs subjectivism?
Answer
Objectivism: moral facts are real and true for everyone. Subjectivism: moral claims express our attitudes, not facts.
Question
The 'mistaken society' argument for realism?
Answer
A society approving of genocide would be WRONG, not right — and you can only be mistaken about a fact, so moral facts must be real.
Question
The anti-realist's 'no property' point?
Answer
Measure a cruel act fully and 'wrongness' isn't among its properties — so 'wrong' expresses our attitude, not a fact.
Question
Is morality discovered or invented (realism/anti-realism)?
Answer
Realism: discovered (like maths). Anti-realism: invented (a feature of us, not the universe).
Question
The realism/anti-realism trade-off?
Answer
Realism explains absolute wrongs but owes us the 'facts'; anti-realism avoids spooky facts but struggles to call cruelty mistaken.
Question
Realist reply to 'you can't measure wrongness'?
Answer
You can't measure numbers either, yet maths is true — moral facts might be real without being physical.
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Topic 4.2 hub
Meta-ethics
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