Metaethics

General Expectations
 1,200 -1,500 (max.) words
 20% of semester grade
 Formal writing: 12-point font, double-spaced, good grammar, spelling, etc.
 No external citations required.
o Cite texts available through Canvas (Author, “Text Title” in Fiala, Phil 115, Canvas, Fall
2020, p. xyz).
o If you do consult an external source provide a full bibliographic citation.
 LATE papers will be marked down one letter grade per day late.
 Paper will be submitted online via TurnItIn plagiarism detection system
Topic for Paper 2: Metaethics
The readings on the syllabus for Phil 115 include discussions of a number of issues in metaethics:
relativism; the fact/value problem; non-naturalism and naturalistic responses (including sociobiology); the
challenge of non-cognitivist theories including emotivism, subjectivism, and nihilism; and the puzzle of
egoism.
In this paper, you should defend a thesis about metaethics (and demonstrate understanding of course
content = explain and evaluate authors and ideas) by considering a few of the following questions:
 Is relativism true or is there a non-relative (objective) morality?
 Are ethical statements true or false (and in what sense)? Or do you agree with the moral nihilists
and/or other non-cognitivists (and to what extent)?
 Is egoism true (and to what extent)? Can people operate form non-selfish motives (and how
would we know)?
 What can we learn (if anything) about ethics from descriptive claims about biology, brains,
institutions, emotions, conventions, agreements, the law, etc.?
Grading Criteria
1. Have you established and defended a thesis?
2. Have you explained key terms and identified appropriate authors?
3. Have you considered counter-arguments and objections?
4. Have you demonstrated comprehension of relevant texts?
5. Have you demonstrated excellent writing and critical thinking skills?

Philoshophers/works allowed:

David Hume – A treatise of Human Nature
G.E. Moor Principia Ethica
John Searle – How to derice an ought from an is
A.J. ayer Language, Truth, and Logic
W. David Ross – The foundation of Ethics

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