Summarise the Metaethical Taxonomy of Ethical Naturalism.

Ethical naturalism is a realist cognitivist doctrine that states that moral judgements are declarative propositions that inform us about mind independent and meaningful information in the world which can be demonstrated to be true of false. Classic examples include Kantian ethics, Virtue ethics, Natural Law, Social Contract theory (Hobbes, Rousseau), Utilitarians who state that "goodness" can be defined or reduced to nature or natural explanations, e.g., reason, character, actualisation, social role, pleasure. There is also Ethical Supernaturalism, that reduces moral propositions to theological ones, i.e., God's nature or will. In other words, this view states that all moral facts/values/properties can be reduced or read off non-moral or physical facts/states, which is in line with the general thrust of reductionist approaches within the sciences (or scientism). Therefore, ethics is not autonomous and free standing. These views are opposed to non-cognitivism and/or antirealism, which states that ethical statements are not declarative propositional forms of knowledge; rather they are mind-dependent, expressive and/or imperative. Thus, they lack empirical factual criteria and truth verifiability criteria and are meaningless (c.f, Ayer's Logical Positivism).

SC
Answered by Samuel C. Philosophy tutor

2878 Views

See similar Philosophy A Level tutors

Related Philosophy A Level answers

All answers ▸

Outline Descartes’ ‘evil deceiver’ argument and explain what he then says about his knowledge of his own existence.


With reference to this extract, explain what J.S Mill means by happiness.


Explain why, for Locke, extension is a primary quality?


How would you outline the Knowledge argument?


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2026 by IXL Learning