PHIL496/596 SP25
Special Topics in Value Theory (PHIL 496/596)
Meta-ethics
Dr. Max Rosenkrantz
Tuesdays & Thursdays · 11:00am–12:15pm · LA5–149
This is a course on meta-ethics in the first half of the 20th century. Meta-ethics is concerned generally with the meaning of ethical language. Specifically, it is concerned with such questions as the following:
- Are ethical claims true?
- If they are true, what makes them true?
- If they are true, how are they known to be true?
- If they are not true, what meaning do they have? Emotive? Prescriptive? Or perhaps no meaning at all?
We will read classic works by G. E. Moore, H. A. Prichard, W. D. Ross, C. L. Stevenson and R. M. Hare. We will also read classic works by authors with three-initials in their name (Welcome to my syllabus, G. E. M. Anscombe!). We will not read anything by anyone who has a complete first name (Sorry, Phillipa Foot and Roderick Firth, you’re out!).