Active learning ideas
Moral Language and Objectivity is the final piece of the Meta-ethics puzzle, where students assess the implications of the Realist vs Anti-realist debate. They focus on Prescriptivism (R.M. Hare), which argues that moral language isn't just emotional, but 'prescriptive', it tells people how to act and must be applied consistently. Students also debate the 'Verification Principle' and whether moral language is even meaningful.
Activity 01
Students must give a 'moral command' to the class (e.g., 'Don't eat meat'). They must then agree to follow that command themselves in all similar situations, testing Hare's 'Universalizability' requirement.
Does emotivism render moral debate impossible?
Activity 02
Students debate whether the abolition of slavery is 'proof' of moral facts (Realism) or just a 'change in social preference' (Anti-realism). They must use specific meta-ethical terms in their arguments.
If moral facts do not exist, does morality still matter?
Activity 03
Students are given the Verification Principle: 'Only statements that are analytically or empirically verifiable are meaningful'. They discuss whether this 'kills' morality and share their thoughts.
How do prescriptivists view the function of moral language?
A few notes on teaching this unit
Watch Out for These Misconceptions
Students think Prescriptivism is the same as Emotivism.
While both are anti-realist, Prescriptivism argues that moral language is *rational* and must be consistent (universalizable), whereas Emotivism is just about feelings. Active 'command-making' helps students see the logical structure in Hare's theory.
Students assume that if there are no moral facts, we can't have moral debates.
Anti-realists argue we can still debate about the *facts* of a case or the *consistency* of someone's feelings. Peer-led 'mock debates' on anti-realist grounds help students see how moral persuasion works without 'objective' truths.
Methods used in this brief
Moral Realism
An introduction to the view that moral properties exist mind-independently. Students will evaluate ethical naturalism and non-naturalism (Moore's intuitionism).
8 methodologies
Moral Anti-realism
Students explore theories that deny the existence of objective moral facts. They will analyse Mackie's error theory and Ayer's emotivism.
8 methodologies