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Moral Error Theory, championed by J.L. Mackie, posits a radical skepticism: while moral statements are intended to be factual (cognitivism), there are no objective moral facts to make them true. Thus, all moral claims are uniformly false. Mackie argues that if objective values existed, they would be entities of a very strange sort, unlike anything else in the universe, and would require a special faculty of perception. This 'Argument from Queerness' suggests that it is more parsimonious to view morality as a useful fiction—a system of rules we project onto the world to facilitate cooperation.

Which of the following scenarios is most analogous to the Error Theory's view of moral discourse?

  1. A judge interpreting an old legal statute that was written many centuries ago within a completely modern courtroom context.
  2. Two rival scientists disagreeing sharply over the possible existence of a brand-new subatomic particle before sufficient data has been collected.
  3. An explorer discovering an entirely new species of animal in a remote rainforest that possesses unique, previously unknown biological traits.
  4. A group of people discussing the specific powers and history of various Greek gods while knowing that the gods do not actually exist.

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