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expressivism

expressivism

9.9
The view that moral statements show feelings, not true facts
  • noun
  • /ɪkˈsprɛsɪvɪzəm/
  • Formal
translation icon : expresivismo
  • According to expressivism, saying 'Lying is bad' shows disapproval rather than stating a fact.

Examples

  • Many philosophers debate whether expressivism can fully explain the meaning of moral language.

  • Some critics argue that expressivism fails to account for the objectivity of moral claims.

  • The concept of expressivism is crucial in moral philosophy.

  • Many philosophers debate the merits of expressivism in ethics.

  • According to expressivism, moral statements reflect the speaker's feelings instead of objective truths.

  • Many scholars argue that expressivism markedly shifts our understanding of ethical language.

  • Critics of expressivism claim it overlooks the importance of establishing moral facts.

Synonyms

emotivism
vsexpressivism
  • Specialized
9.9

A view that saying something is wrong or right shows feelings, not facts

describes moral statements as expressing attitudes or emotions rather than stating facts

Antonyms

objectivity
46 5.3

Making decisions based on facts, not personal feelings

factuality
1 6.5

A quality of being true and based on real information

Surface Forms

expressivism singular
expressivisms plural

Morphology

expressivism = expressive (transparent) = express + ive + ism

Built by adding the doctrinal suffix '-ism' to 'expressive', indicating a metaethical position that moral language expresses attitudes.

Etymology

Expressivism comes from express meaning 'to show or say' and the ending -ism meaning 'a belief'. In moral talk, expressivism says that sentences like 'Lying is bad' mainly 'show' disapproval or feeling, not a fact.