medium · MCAT Critical Analysis & Reasoning Skills
Moral non-cognitivism argues that moral statements do not express beliefs about the world but rather express emotions or prescriptions. Under this view, saying 'murder is wrong' is less like stating a fact ('snow is white') and more like an emotional ejaculation ('Boo for murder!') or a command ('Don't murder!'). This avoids the 'queerness' problem of moral realism—the difficulty of explaining what kind of objective entity a 'moral fact' could be. However, non-cognitivism struggles to explain moral reasoning. If I say 'If lying is wrong, then getting your brother to lie is wrong,' and I also believe 'lying is wrong,' I am logically committed to the conclusion. But one cannot logically combine commands or 'boos' in this way. This suggests that morality must have a propositional structure, even if its ultimate source is internal.
Which of the following analogies best captures the author's critique of non-cognitivism? Trying to build a bridge using only the subjective feelings of the architect rather than mathematical measurements. Attempting to play a game of chess where the pieces move based on the players' moods rather than fixed rules. Using a map where the landmarks are defined by the traveler's current excitement level. Constructing a logical syllogism where the premises are exclamations like 'Ouch!' or 'Hooray!'
- Constructing a logical syllogism where the premises are exclamations like 'Ouch!' or 'Hooray!'
- Attempting to play a game of chess where the pieces move based on the players' moods rather than fixed rules.
- Trying to build a bridge using only the subjective feelings of the architect rather than mathematical measurements.
- Using a map where the landmarks are defined by the traveler's current excitement level.
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