About this episodeSimon Blackburn argues that ethical statements are expressions of attitudes rather than descriptions of non-na…AI summary
Simon Blackburn argues that ethical statements are expressions of attitudes rather than descriptions of non-natural properties, a view he terms 'quasi-realism.' He utilizes deflationary theories of truth and the Frege-Geach problem to demonstrate how moral language can support logical inference and objective-seeming discourse without requiring metaphysical realism. The conversation extends this functionalist approach to epistemology, suggesting that even basic factual claims are rooted in human attitudes and practical commitments rather than correspondence to abstract facts.
Key takeaways 5
Critique of G.E. Moore: Blackburn identifies G.E. Moore's 1903 introduction of 'non-natural properties' and 'intuition' as the starting point for the problematic 'realist appearance' in ethics, arguing it led philosophers up a 'garden path' by inventing a metaphysical question (moral ontology) that didn't need to be asked.
Deflationary Truth and the Frege-Geach Problem: Blackburn explains that 'truth' is deflationary (saying 'X is true' adds nothing to saying 'X'). This allows non-cognitivists to solve the Frege-Geach embedding problem: ethical statements in conditionals (e.g., 'If murder is wrong...') function as 'inference tickets' or licenses for reasoning, allowing attitudes to be structured logically without being truth-apt propositions.
Functionalism in Ethics vs. Science: Blackburn draws a parallel between ethics and physics, noting that science explains what things do (functionalism) rather than their intrinsic nature. Similarly, ethics should explain what moral terms do (express attitudes, persuade, guide action) rather than seeking a metaphysical definition of 'goodness'.
Attitudes vs. Emotions: Blackburn prefers the term 'attitude' over 'emotion' because emotions imply physiological episodes (like sweating), whereas ethical stances can be inert or reflective (e.g., regretting a historical outcome) while still being practically significant.
Holism and the Myth of the Given: Referencing Wilfrid Sellars, Blackburn argues against atomistic views of knowledge ('heap of shot'). Instead, believing a simple fact like 'the table exists' involves a complex web of commitments and inferences, linking epistemology, metaphysics, and ethics into a unified practical framework.
Notable quotes 5AI-generated: wording and quote attribution may be wrong. Use the play link to verify.
“The rot started with Moore really in his 1903 book... Moore decided that there was a property... a non-natural property... and then you're off to the races because where are you? Um because you've got a supernatural or non-natural property and you've got a non natural way of knowing about it.”
▶ 7:01Blackburn identifies G.E. Moore's intuitionism as the historical origin of the problematic realist framework in 20th-century ethics.
“Ramsay's ladder is lying on the ground. It's horizontal. It doesn't carry you any higher or anywhere different.”
▶ 21:33Blackburn uses Frank Ramsey's metaphor to explain deflationary truth: adding 'is true' to a statement does not elevate it to a higher metaphysical status or create new facts.
“If you approve of giving money to the homeless then you approve of giving money to female homeless... You need to be as it were able to be taken to account for your attitudes.”
▶ 48:45Blackburn explains why ethical language requires logical structure (indicative form): it allows us to hold our attitudes consistent and accountable through inference.
“We must not start with pure ideas vagabond thoughts which the public highways with no human habitation but with men and their conversations.”
▶ 1:05:11Blackburn quotes William James to support the pragmatist view that philosophical concepts like truth and propositions must be understood in terms of human use and conversation, not abstract metaphysics.
“The world was a pot of trowel [color]... whereas Moore and he think that it's a heap of shot.”
▶ 1:13:39Blackburn contrasts the holistic view of reality (Oxford idealists) with the atomistic view (early analytic philosophers like Moore), arguing for the former's superiority in explaining interconnected beliefs.
Chapters & Sections (59)▼
0:00Ethics Theories: Realism vs Anti-Realismchapter4
0:00Ethics Distinctions and Philosophical Positions
1:56Ethics and Cognitive Truth Value
3:24Philosophical Debates on Moral Terminology
4:55Philosophy of Ethics and Truth
6:36Critique of Moore's Influence on Ethicschapter2
6:36Critique of Moore's Influence on Ethics
9:08Philosophical Discussion on Ethics and Morality
11:04Properties and Qualities in Ethicschapter3
11:04Properties and Explanation in Ethics
12:33Philosophical Discussion on Physics Limitations
13:48Causality and the Limits of Knowledge
15:06Philosophy of Ethics and Intuitionchapter3
15:06Philosophical Discussion on Ethics and Intuition
17:04Philosophical Debate on Moral Certainties
18:21Philosophical Discussion on Ethics and Realism
20:16Philosophy of Truth and Realitychapter2
20:16Philosophy of Truth and Reality
21:45Philosophy of Truth and Correspondence Theory
24:45Philosophy of Truth and Partial Beliefschapter2
24:45Philosophical Discussion on Truth and Belief
27:04Philosophical Discussion of Truth and Belief
29:27Philosophical Discussion of Emotion and Attitudechapter2
29:27Philosophical Discussion of Emotion and Attitude
32:23Literary Criticism of Emma's Behavior
33:44Moral Basis and Emotional Dispositionchapter2
33:44Moral Basis and Emotional Disposition
35:53Philosophical Discussion on Attitude vs Belief
38:01Expressing Attitude with Indicative Sentenceschapter3
38:01Expressing Attitude in Language Flexibility
40:01Philosophical Discussion on Indicative Form
41:59Ethics Beyond Expressing Feelings
43:11Philosophical Discussion of Emotivismchapter2
43:11Philosophical Discussion on Emotivism
45:09Emotivist Argument Against Moral Statements
47:21Ge's Problem with Logical Syllogismschapter3
47:21Philosophical Discussion on Truth and Inference
49:03Philosophical Discussion on Moral Attitudes
50:54Implications of Approval and Disapproval
53:16Ethical Implications of Advocating for Changechapter3
53:16Critique of Emotivist Ethical Claims
54:56Morality and Language Paradox Discussion
56:12Emotivist Argument Against Murdering Simon
57:36Philosophical Discussion on Emotive Logicchapter3
57:36Philosophical Discussion on Logical Structure
59:21Philosophical Discussion on Emotive Language
1:01:11Philosophy of Causation and Implication
1:02:38Philosophical Discussion of Emotivist Ethicschapter3
1:02:38Philosophical Discussion of Emotivist Ethics
1:03:57Philosophy and Pragmatist Tradition Discussion
1:05:25Philosophical Discussion on Truth and Reality
1:08:16Philosophy of Perception and Realitychapter3
1:08:16Philosophical Discussion on Existence and Interconnectedness
1:10:17Philosophical Discussion on Epistemology and Metaphysics
1:11:46Philosophical Discussion of Emotive Understanding
1:13:39Philosophical Views on Holism and Propositionschapter3
1:13:39Philosophical Views on Holism and Propositions
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