Metaethics

Abstract

Metaethics is the attempt to understand the metaphysical,epistemological, semantic, and psychological, presuppositions andcommitments of moral thought, talk, and practice. As such, it countswithin its domain a broad range of questions and puzzles, including:Is morality more a matter of taste than truth? Are moral standardsculturally relative? Are there moral facts? If there are moral facts,what are their origin and nature? How is it that they set anappropriate standard for our behavior? How might moral facts berelated to other facts (about psychology, happiness, humanconventions…)? And how do we learn about moral facts, if thereare any? These questions lead naturally to puzzles about the meaningof moral claims as well as about moral truth and the justification ofour moral commitments. Metaethics explores as well the connectionbetween values, reasons for action, and human motivation, asking howit is that moral standards might provide us with reasons to do orrefrain from doing as they demand, and it addresses many of the issuescommonly bound up with the nature of freedom and its significance (ornot) for moral responsibility.