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Flip to reveal answersCognitivism (about moral claims)?
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All 8 Flashcards — What does “good” mean?
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Question
Cognitivism (about moral claims)?
Answer
The view that moral claims state facts and can be true or false — so we can be right or wrong about them.
Question
Non-cognitivism?
Answer
The view that moral claims don't state facts; they express feelings or attitudes, so can't be true or false.
Question
Emotivism?
Answer
The boldest non-cognitivism: moral claims express approval ('hurrah!') or disapproval ('boo!'), not facts.
Question
Emotivism's strength and weakness?
Answer
Strength: explains why morality moves us to act. Weakness: flattens real moral argument into booing vs cheering.
Question
Naturalism about 'good'?
Answer
'Good' just means some natural, this-world fact — e.g. 'what increases happiness'.
Question
Non-naturalism and the open question?
Answer
For any natural fact you can still ask 'but is THAT good?' — so 'good' names something real you can't reduce to nature.
Question
How does ethical language link to the rest of the topic?
Answer
Cognitivism ↔ realism ↔ 'discovered'; non-cognitivism/emotivism ↔ anti-realism ↔ Hume's feeling. The open question echoes the fact–value gap.
Question
What lifts a Section B answer to the top band?
Answer
Arguing between more than one theory on the claim and reaching a reasoned conclusion — not describing each in turn.
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Meta-ethics
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