AQA Philosophy A2 Level
Moral Philosophy
How do people justify their actions? How do we understand truth and the application to morality? If truth is external to the individual how do we respond to it? If truth is internal from the individual how we know what is really true? How should we apply these to moral situation?
This part of the course will look at the concept that moral concepts can be understood as being objective. These moral concepts are external to the individual. We need to take account of how the individual is to then respond to these moral truths.
REMEMBER FOR MORAL REALISM THAT MORALS EXIST OUTSIDE THE INDIVIDUAL!!!
Evidence for Moral Realism
- We think we can make mistakes. If there were no moral truths, we would not think this was possible
- Morality feels like an outside demand on us – i.e. no-one is watching but I know I shouldn’t steal
- We think we can make moral progress
What types of moral truths are there?
- Transcendent
- Based on natural facts
- Relational morality
- Analogy with secondary properties
- How is knowledge of moral truth possible?
- Possibility of agreement over moral truth
- Can moral truths motivate or justify action?