Ethics chapter 20

What is the relationship between ethical relativism and moral nihilism?

They are competing theories that cannot both be true.

What is the relationship between expressivism and moral nihilism?

Expressivism is a form of moral nihilism.

What is the fundamental "error" that the error theory seeks to debunk?

The idea that morality is objective and requires things of us independently of our desires

Which of the following claims would an error theorist not accept?

The main aim of moral judgments is to express emotions.

Which of the following claims would cultural relativists and error theorists both accept

Moral judgments aim to describe the moral features of things.

What is a categorical reason?

reason that applies to us regardless of whether acting on it gets us what we want

What is the function of moral claims, according to expressivism?

To vent our emotions

How might an expressivist translate the claim that stealing is wrong?

Don't steal!

Which of the following theories is inconsistent with the claim that there can be valid moral arguments?

Expressivism

Which of the following is impossible, according to expressivism?

A person who is not motivated by her moral judgments

According to moral nihilists, facts and values are two separate entities. Factual claims inform us of things, and value claims are not informative.

True 

Which of the following is an essential claims of error theory

there are no moral features in this world incorrect

no moral judgments are true incorrect

there is no moral knowledge incorrect

our sincere moral judgments try, and always fail, to describe the moral features of things incorrect

all of the above

Categorical reasons are reasons that apply to us regardless of whether acting on them will get us what we want.

True

Error theory must explain the existence of categorical reasons.

False

The argument from disastrous results assumes that the truth of a theory depends on what would happen if everyone endorsed the theory.

True 

What might "torture is immoral" mean according to expressivists?

Torture aggh incorrect

Don't torture incorrect

I will plan a life that doesn't include torturing others incorrect

there is a mind-independent moral truth that torturing is morally bad incorrect

A, B, and C correct

Moral judgments are fundamentally motivational according to an expressivist.

True