What is emotivism?

Philosophy Metaethics Questions



42 Short 32 Medium 52 Long Answer Questions Question Index

What is emotivism?

Emotivism is a metaethical theory that asserts that moral statements are not expressions of objective facts or truths, but rather expressions of personal emotions or attitudes. According to emotivism, when someone makes a moral statement, they are not making a claim about the world, but rather expressing their own subjective feelings or desires. For example, when someone says "stealing is wrong," they are not stating a fact about the inherent wrongness of stealing, but rather expressing their disapproval or negative emotions towards stealing. Emotivism rejects the idea of moral objectivity and instead focuses on the individual's emotional response to moral issues.