Curse Moral Relativism!
About this episode
Tanner Campbell discusses the implications of emotivism in meta-ethics using incest as a case study through the lens of Stoic role ethics.
Subscribe to the FREE Stoic Brekkie newsletter: https://stoicbrekkie.com I am a public philosopher. I am enabled to do this job, in large part, thanks to support from my listeners and readers. You can support my work, and keep it independent and online, at https://stoicismpod.com/members In this episode, I respond to a short clip discussing incest as an example of emotivism in meta-ethics. Emotivism claims that when we say something is wrong, we are not stating a fact but expressing disapproval. The suggestion in the clip is that incest may ultimately be “wrong” only because we feel that it is wrong. I take that seriously. It is true that many people struggle to articulate why incest is objectively wrong beyond saying it feels disgusting. And philosophers should care about that. If something is wrong, we should be able to explain why in rational terms. Using Stoic role ethics, I outline a clear argument. In Stoicism, some roles are grounded in nature. These roles are not arbitrary. They come with built-in functions and ends. The sibling role is ordered toward familial care, trust, and cooperative development within the household. It is explicitly non-erotic because its function…
People in this episode
Host: Tanner Campbell
Topics covered
- moral relativism
- emotivism
- Stoic ethics
- incest
- philosophy
Keywords
- moral relativism
- emotivism
- Stoicism
- incest
- philosophy
- ethics
- role ethics
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Stoic Brekkie, Stoicism Pod
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