Moral non-naturalism

Definition

Moral non-naturalism is the ethical theory that asserts moral properties and facts are not reducible to natural properties, such as those found in science or human psychology. This viewpoint holds that moral truths exist independently of our understanding or perception and are not contingent upon naturalistic explanations, making moral claims objective and universal.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Moral non-naturalism argues that moral facts are not empirical and cannot be observed or tested through scientific methods.
2. It emphasizes the idea that moral statements express propositions that can be evaluated for truth, despite their non-natural basis.
3. Non-naturalists often claim that certain moral truths are self-evident or intuitively grasped, which sets them apart from empirical claims.
4. This theory contrasts sharply with moral naturalism, which attempts to ground morality in natural properties and phenomena.
5. Prominent proponents of moral non-naturalism include philosophers like G.E. Moore, who argued against reducing moral terms to naturalistic definitions.

Review Questions

• How does moral non-naturalism differ from moral naturalism in terms of understanding moral properties?
  • Moral non-naturalism differs from moral naturalism primarily in its assertion that moral properties cannot be reduced to natural properties. While moral naturalism seeks to explain moral truths through empirical observations and scientific inquiry, non-naturalism maintains that moral facts exist independently of the natural world and cannot be fully understood through scientific means. This distinction highlights the non-naturalist belief in the objectivity of moral truths despite their elusive nature.
• Discuss the implications of adopting a moral non-naturalist perspective on ethical debates surrounding issues like human rights.
  • Adopting a moral non-naturalist perspective implies that human rights possess an objective status that transcends cultural and personal beliefs. This means that regardless of societal norms or individual opinions, certain rights are universally valid and should be upheld based on their inherent moral significance. This view encourages a framework for ethical discussions where rights are seen as absolute and not merely products of social conventions, thus supporting a stronger stance against violations of these rights.
• Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of moral non-naturalism compared to cognitivism and non-cognitivism in ethics.
  • Moral non-naturalism's strength lies in its commitment to objective moral truths, which aligns with cognitivist views about the truth-apt nature of moral statements. However, it faces challenges regarding how these non-natural truths can be known or justified, especially when compared to cognitivism’s reliance on observable evidence. On the other hand, non-cognitivism argues against the truth-apt nature of moral claims, suggesting instead that they express emotional attitudes or prescriptions. This raises questions about the meaningfulness and universality of non-naturalist claims, positioning it within an ongoing debate about the nature of ethics itself.

Related terms

Cognitivism: Cognitivism is the view that moral statements express beliefs that can be true or false, implying that there are objective moral facts that can be known.

Moral realism: Moral realism is the position that there are objective moral facts and values that exist independently of individual opinions or cultural norms.

Naturalism: Naturalism is the philosophical stance that everything arises from natural properties and causes, denying supernatural or spiritual explanations.