Ethical Naturalism: How do you work out whether the following statements are true or false? Stalin was an evil man It is wrong to break someone's leg Stalin helped defeat Germany Murder causes pain and suffering It is painful to brake your leg Murder is wrong

What is ethical naturalism? Read page 163 of the BOYD article. Does this shine any light on what it means to be an ethical naturalist? Ethical naturalism is a form of moral realism. What do you think it means to be a naturalist? Try to make a link with Natural Moral Law.

Ethical Naturalism Ethical naturalism is an attempt to link morality with scientific knowledge. It is the view that: Ethical terms can be defined or explained using the same ‘natural’ terms that we would use to define mathematics or science. Morals could be based on the same kind of observation of the world as used in science. Think back to last lesson: Consider the phrase ‘murder is bad’, what would it mean to define ‘bad’ in natural terms. How do we know ‘murder is bad’ through observation?

Ethical Naturalism They claim that moral conclusions can be drawn from non- moral premises. This means that you can come to the conclusion that ‘x is wrong’ from observation and analysis of the natural world. Ethical naturalism states that all we need to discover moral truths are our sense perceptions and logic faculty. Moral truths are like numbers or chemical properties. For example when you witness the murder of an innocent person, you do not just see the the facts of how the person is killed, you also perceive the fact that it is despicable and wrong. Naturalists claim that the wrongness of murder is just as much of a fact of the universe as the fact that plunging a knife into the heart can stop it.

What is the difference between theological and hedonic naturalism? Ethical Naturalism THINK: What is the difference between theological and hedonic naturalism?

Different types of Ethical Naturalism Theological naturalism: They maintain that goodness is linked to the will of God as seen in nature. God’s will defines morality: murder is wrong because God commands against murder. St. Thomas Aquinas Hedonic naturalism: Goodness is a fact of pleasure or happiness. R.B. Perry: ‘good’ means ‘being an object of favourable interest’ and ‘right’ means ‘being conducive to harmonious happiness’. ‘X is good’ is the same as ‘x is an object of desire’ and ‘y is right’ is the same as ‘y is conducive to harmonious happiness’. However, both agree that ‘good’ doesn’t really exist on its own. It can be reduced to pleasure, happiness or God’s will.

F. H. Bradley and Ethical Naturalism: ‘Ethical Studies’ – 1876. Rejects hedonism Rejects theological naturalism A moral perspective is determined from self- realisation and observing one’s position in society ‘we have found the end, we have found self-realisation, duty, and happiness in one – yes, we have found ourselves, when we have found ourselves our station and it’s duties, our function as an organ of the social organism.’ Bradley is arguing that goodness, for each person, can be reduced to fulfilling their function in society (whatever that may be). When we learn in the family and community, and adopt the values of society we will realise that fulfilling our role and duties will provide a satisfying life.

Check your understanding: 1. Explain what is meant by ‘ethical naturalism’ in your own words 2. Do you think it makes sense to claim that ‘the wrongness of murder is just as much of a fact of the universe as the fact that plunging a knife into the heart can stop it?’ 3. What is the difference between hedonic and theological naturalism? 4. Is it always good to fulfil your function or role in society? Try to explain your view with an example.

Plenary: Mind- map the points you could include Naturalism –reduce to natural terms/ observation Cognitivist F. H. Bradley’s naturalism Explain the key features of ethical naturalism (8) Realism Hedonic naturalism Theological naturalism

Answer the 8 mark question. Explain the key features of ethical naturalism (8)