Metaethics in Philosophy

Question

Can you please briefly define objectivism, cultural relativism, subjectivism and emotivism and their implications. If you can in one to three sentences for each. I just need to understand the basics of it.

Answer 1

In short, objectivism is the view that there are correct and incorrect answers to ethical questions. The other three are different ways of attempting to suggest that there is no such thing as right and wrong in an objective sense. I'll admit my bias here as an objectivist before explaining each in detail:

1. Objectivism in metaethics suggests that moral truths exist independently of human beliefs or perceptions. It implies that what is right and what is wrong is objective. In other words, questions like "is it morally wrong to steal candy from a baby?" have correct and incorrect answers.
2. Cultural Relativism argues that what's considered morally right or wrong varies from culture to culture. According to this view, there are no universal moral standards or correct answers, and moral values are created by societies. This means that an action deemed moral in one culture might be immoral in another, so, there might be a culture in which "no" is the correct answer to "is it morally wrong to steal candy from a baby?"
3. Subjectivism in metaethics implies that moral judgments are based on individual feelings, opinions, or attitudes. This view suggests that there are no external or objective moral truths; what's right or wrong depends entirely on what an individual believes or feels. Thus, moral judgments can vary greatly from person to person, and stealing candy from a baby can be right for you if that's what you feel is correct.
4. Emotivism is the view that moral statements don't describe facts but express the speaker's emotions or attitudes towards a subject. It suggests that when we make moral judgments, we're not stating truths but expressing our feelings (like approval or disapproval) about something. This view implies that moral debates are more about influencing others' attitudes than proving objective truths.

One additional thing that might be helpful: "Subjectivism" is sometimes called "individual relativism." It and cultural relativism are essentially the same sort of belief, but applied at different levels. Individual relativism suggests "morality is up to the individual," while cultural relativism suggests "morality is up to the society," both denying the existence of objective moral truth.