Unique status of meta-ethical emotivism in Stevenson
DOI
Access Status
This content is available to Open Access.
To download content simply use the links provided under the Files section.
More information about licence and terms of use for this content is available in the Rights section.
Type
Article
Date
2022-03
Journal Title
Philosophical Papers Journal of Department of Philosophy
Journal Editor
Bhattacharyya, Anureema
Joardar, Koushik
Mukherjee, Anirban
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of North Bengal
Statistics
Total views and downloads
Views
140Downloads
115Citation
Bhattacharyya, A. (2022). Unique status of meta-ethical emotivism in Stevenson. Philosophical Papers Journal of Department of Philosophy, XVIII, 78–90. https://ir.nbu.ac.in/handle/123456789/4626
Authors
Bhattacharyya, Anureema
Advisor
Editor
Abstract
The basic understanding of morality undoubtedly revolves round the situational aspects of the
moral agents who form the subject of discussion. There cannot be any question about ethicality
where the human agents are not involved. Now, concepts of ‗good‘ or ‗bad‘ are necessary to
understand for the sake of answering normative queries; but, they are never appropriately
comprehended from a non-subjective standpoint, as it is nothing without the subject which can be
absolutely relevant in understanding the judgements passed by them. The physical world is a party
to the discussion only because the moral agents sustain their existence through interacting with
them, and thereby having a common interaction also with the environment of which they both form
an indispensable part.
Now, the question is- why are ethical questions asked or ethical judgements passed? It is precisely
to express our attitude towards something thereby contributing in affecting the thoughts of others,
or else in resolving disputes /disagreements rising out of differences in belief or attitudes. This
purpose is effectively served only when the situational factors are understood in relation to the
subject/subjects involved – i.e. in understanding the totality of the emergence of such contexts.
Hence, comes the justification of introducing meta-ethics in the form of a comprehensive
understanding of ethical language along with an understanding of the psychology behind use of
the language, the background behind the use of such language, and hence the social role played
by use of such language. This way of exercising ethics stands in sharp contrast to the normative
approach of knowing what is ‗good‘, ‗bad‘ on the basis of some objectively set standards.
Morality is subject-oriented, and because the existential situations of humans/subjects evolve in its
domain, any bit of discussion on ethics is rendered pointless when dealt with in absolute
objectivity. The focus of my paper is thus to study after C.L.Stevenson the purpose of doing
metaethics as a wholesome study addressing the justification and practicality of the very existence
of the discipline called Ethics.
Description
Keywords
Meta-ethical emotivism, Stevenson
Citation
Accession No
Call No
Book Title
Edition
Volume
ISBN No
Volume Number
XVIII
Issue Number
ISSN No
0976-4496
eISSN No
Pages
Pages
78 - 90