WJEC/Eduqas RS for A2/Yr2: Religion and Ethics (DRAFT)

WJEC / Eduqas Religious Studies for A Level Year 2 and A2 Religion and Ethics

If Emotivism were true, there would be no point to moral discussions. This runs counter to the instincts of many who feel that these discussions are valid. Also, if Emotivism is true, it must reduce a moral statement to the same level as all other statements that do not come from a source that is logically verifiable; moral statements are therefore at the same level as statements used in advertising, bribes and blackmail. An Intuitionist would say that this cannot possibly be the case! Another argument would be that if moral statements are nothing more than a creation of family/culture/society, why are people able to ‘stand outside’ of their culture/family/society and challenge them morally? Therefore, there must be a basis for morality other than human emotion. In addition, how do we differentiate ‘right’ between two people’s moral opinions? Nothing can be resolved, and therefore some would see this as unworkable. Stevenson argues that ethical language has a dynamic nature and magnetism but it could be suggested that rational ethical statements are not judged on the basis of emotional response but assessed by the nature of their argument. Mary Warnock has clearly pointed out that a claim that ‘murder is wrong’ is not simply about seeking approval! Such a serious ethical proposition is to be challenged, questioned, debated and deliberated with caution. If ethical statements were really just down to emotions then our moral obligations would not be consistent at all and there would be chaos. It could be argued, however, this is one of the strengths of Stevenson’s views in that it does allow Emotivism to move beyond a simple exchange of voices; it allows for persuasion, challenge and the clear expression of reasons. Why is it considered a bad thing for moral debate to be based upon gaining others’ approval or avoiding their disapproval; this appears to have been most of the practice in applied ethics throughout history. Key quote While Stevenson granted that moral language didn’t have factual or cognitive content, he argued that it had emotive meaning. Moral propositions aren’t true or false, but they aren’t meaningless either – moral language allows us to express emotions. Thus he could easily account for our differences regarding ethics – we have different emotions. And when we disagree, Stevenson said we have a disagreement in attitude. But reasons or arguments will not change other people’s attitudes. (Messerly) One conclusion could be that moral terms are expressions of emotions but there is more to moral language than just approval, as Stevenson has demonstrated. Alternatively, moral terms are not at all the expressions of emotion, they are objective and absolute features in the world and this would be the conclusion of Ethical Naturalism. It could also be concluded, however, that moral terms may have both an emotional pole and an objective pole and that it is difficult or impossible to untangle one from the other.

Key questions Is it true that our strong feelings of approval or disapproval are the only force behind our ethical statements? Is it really true that different intuitive abilities are the reason for moral disagreements? Are there really ‘objective features of the world’ or is every observation really an interpretation? Do common ethical approaches across cultures really point to an objective morality? Isn’t truth or falsity in the eye of the beholder?

DRAFT

AO2 Activity List some conclusions that could be drawn from the AO2 reasoning from the above text; try to aim for at least three different possible conclusions. Consider each of the conclusions and collect brief evidence to support each conclusion from the AO1 and AO2 material for this topic. Select the conclusion that you think is most convincing and explain why it is so. Try to contrast this with the weakest conclusion in the list, justifying your argument with clear reasoning and evidence. Whether one of Naturalism, Intuitionism or Emotivism is superior to the other theories.

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