Examine the different ways in which ‘good’ is used in meta-ethics Essay

a) Examine the different focussings in which unassailable is used in meta-ethics.Meta-ethics is the study of the take to being of moral language. It describes presuppositions and language of morality. in that location argon a amount of different ethical theories for the meaning of heavy used in meta-ethics. The four main headings under which most bankable theories can fit under in some shape or form. These argon Ethical Naturalism (or Definism), Intuitionism, Emotivism and Presciptivism.Definism system states that all ethical statements atomic number 18 similar to non-ethical statements and can, hence, be approached in the same(p) way. In the same way that we can verify a scientific fact, ethical naturalism theory states that we can verify an ethical statement. They are both prepositional. Definism states that ethical statements are just a type of short hand for more than mixed propositions. So therefore, in bounds of Ethical Naturalism, if I were to use the term tra de superb in a number of examples, it would just be a summary word to sum up all the other lyric I wish to have incorporated into my sentence.For example, in the sentence I am estimable at football, the word steady-going is used to mean competent or talented. This does non mean that near(a) means skilled or talented, but simply that both of these words are incorporated in the single use of good. In another sentence, good could be used as a short hand for a completely different set of words. In the sentence, It is good to see you, good is used to mean pleasant, squeamish or heart warming. again this does not mean that good means pleasant or nice, but simply that both these words are incorporated in the single use of good.A contradictory theory to Definism is Intuitionism. Intuitionism states that good is unnameable. Intuitionism besides holds that basic moral truths are objective and stand independently of what stack my fell or mobilize. Intuitionism holds that we should pick out our moral rationales through what we think or feel. There is no definition of good that can eer hold true. For example, if someone were to define good as pleasing, an intuitionist would respond by pointing out that not all pleasing matters are good.A similar theory to Intuitionism is Emotivism. An Emotivist believes that moral judgements simply express our feelings on a subject. If someone were to claim something was good, an Emotivist would see this as an randy exclamation, not a truth claim, and would take it to mean that the person clears of the thing/action/person etc.Another fairly similar theory is Prescriptivism. Prescriptivists believe that in using moral language such as good/bad or right/wrong, we are simply prescribing our opinions. In other words were are saying, do this, and let everyone do the same in the same situation. Therefore, if someone were to say giving to charity is good, what he or she is really saying is you ought to give to charity. This aga in, means that good not used as a universal truth, but in this role it is used as a universal prescription.In summary in Definism, the term good is simply a short hand for more complex propositions that utilize to that particular example. In Intuitionism holds that good in indefinable and therefore has no universal meaning. Emotivists believe when we use the term good or make other moral judgements, we are simply expressing our feelings. So, therefore, if I say something is good, this is simply an exclamation and therefore cannot be true or false and cannot be reasoned upon. Lastly, Prescriptivism holds that when we say something is good we are prescribing a particular opinion and making it known to other that we feel they should do the same.b) Anything people approve of must be good. DiscussThe response to this hesitation depends on how we define the term good. Can we loosely define good as moralistic? There is a common theory that believes that our morals our simply a product of our culture and background. Therefore, there will be different moral codes in different societies. If each individual nine has equal validity, it must be agreed that there can be no universal moral code. This theory is called Cultural Relativism. Cultural Relativism therefore holds that good means socially approved. Therefore if we rearrange the above statement, replenishment the word good with the Cultural Relativists definition, we find ourselves looking at a slightly odd sentence which looks as follows Anything that people approve of must be socially approved.Now there are two ways to interpret this sentence. The first would be to question the number of people included in the generalization of the word people. If the sentence is think to mean, if anybody approves of something, it must be socially approved, then the statement is not true. However, we can also take the sentence to mean, If the majority of people indoors a fraternity approve of something, then it is said to be socially approved. If we swap good back into the sentence we end up with a statement that looks like this if the majority of people within a society approve of something then it is good. Thus we have formed the central principle of Cultural relativism.In terms of the other theories that define good, entirely one can be applied. Definism would argue that the statement is simply a short hand for more complex propositions. So in this case, good is used to mean beneficial or correct. Since this is possibly true, Ethical naturalists would have a fairly strong argument here. Emotivism, Intuitionism or Prescriptivism cannot really apply here as they are all subjective and based on opinion and in this case good cannot be used an exclamation of opinion.