J. L. Mackie: Ethics: Inventing Right and Wrong

question 17

Multiple Choice

J. L. Mackie: Ethics: Inventing Right and Wrong
Mackie's position, which he calls "moral skepticism" but has come to be more commonly known as "the error theory," involves two central claims. First, Mackie claims that ordinary moral discourse contains a "claim to objectivity." When someone makes a moral claim-e.g., that abortion is immoral-they do not mean to merely express their feelings or issue a command. Rather, they are seeking to describe an intrinsic feature of the action in question-in this case, that abortion is objectively the sort of thing that ought not to be done. Second, Mackie claims that objective moral values do not exist. It follows from these two theses that all moral claims are false.
Mackie gives two main arguments for his claim that objective values do not exist. The Argument from Relativity maintains that variation in moral judgments, both between individuals and between societies, is best explained by the hypothesis that moral judgments reflect ways of life rather than objective moral facts. If so, Mackie claims, there is good reason to believe that moral facts do not exist. The second argument, the Argument from Queerness, has two parts, one metaphysical and one epistemological. Metaphysically, if objective values did exist, they would be completely unlike anything else in the universe, in that they would give us reasons for action independently of what we happen to desire or aim at. Epistemologically, if such values existed, they would have to be known by some special faculty of intuition, completely different from our other ways of knowing about the world. Because it is implausible that such strange facts or faculties exist, Mackie claims, we should accept that no objective values exist. Mackie concludes with a brief discussion of how people could come to believe in objective values, despite their non-existence.
-According to Mackie, the best explanation for the variation in the moral codes of different societies is that:

• A) many people have distorted moral vision.
• B) different things are morally required depending on the circumstances.
• C) moral codes reflect ways of life rather than perceptions of objective values.
• D) none of the above.

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Definitions:

Social-Media Influences

The impact and effect of social media platforms on individuals' attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors.

Mass- and Entertainment-Media Influences

The impact that content from television, movies, music, and online sources has on shaping individuals' attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors.

Individualistic Cultures

Societies that value independence, self-expression, and the needs of the individual over those of the group.

Collectivist Cultures

Societies that emphasize the needs and goals of the group as a whole over the needs and desires of each individual.