Emotivism

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Emotivism

Emotivism is a meta-ethical view that claims that ethical sentences do not express propositions but emotional attitudes. This theory is a form of non-cognitivism, which suggests that moral statements are not capable of being true or false because they do not express genuine propositions. Instead, emotivism posits that moral language functions primarily to express emotions and to influence the actions of others.

Historical Background

Emotivism emerged in the early 20th century as part of the broader movement of logical positivism. It was significantly influenced by the works of philosophers such as A.J. Ayer and Charles L. Stevenson. Ayer's book "Language, Truth, and Logic" (1936) is often credited with popularizing emotivism, where he argued that ethical statements are expressions of approval or disapproval and are thus not subject to truth conditions.

Key Concepts

Non-Cognitivism

Emotivism is a type of non-cognitivism, which holds that moral judgments do not express beliefs or propositions that can be true or false. Instead, they express non-cognitive attitudes, such as emotions or prescriptions.

Expression of Emotion

According to emotivism, when someone makes a moral statement like "Stealing is wrong," they are not stating a fact about the world. Instead, they are expressing their emotional response to stealing, akin to saying "Boo to stealing!"

Persuasive Function

Emotivism also emphasizes the persuasive function of moral language. When people make moral statements, they are not only expressing their emotions but also attempting to influence the attitudes and actions of others. For example, saying "Stealing is wrong" might be an attempt to dissuade others from stealing.

Criticisms

Emotivism has faced several criticisms over the years. One major criticism is that it fails to account for the apparent objectivity of moral discourse. Critics argue that people often discuss moral issues as if they are matters of fact, not merely expressions of emotion.

Another criticism is that emotivism struggles to explain moral disagreement. If moral statements are merely expressions of emotion, it is unclear how genuine disagreement is possible, since it would be akin to disagreeing over a preference for ice cream flavors.

Influence and Legacy

Despite its criticisms, emotivism has had a significant impact on the field of meta-ethics and has influenced subsequent theories, such as prescriptivism and expressivism. It has also contributed to ongoing debates about the nature of moral language and the role of emotions in ethical reasoning.

Also see

• Non-cognitivism
• Prescriptivism
• Expressivism
• A.J. Ayer
• Charles L. Stevenson