The Emotive Meaning of Ethical Terms
Charles L. Stevenson
Abstract
The original question may embody hypostatization, anthropomorphism, vagueness, and all the other ills to which our ordinary discourse is subject. “Ethics must not be psychology.” This restriction rules out all of the traditional interest theories, without exception. It is so sweeping a restriction that people must examine its plausibility. The omnipotence of the empirical method, as implied by interest theories and others, may be shown unacceptable in a somewhat different way. Mr. G. E. Moore’s familiar objection about the open question is chiefly pertinent in this regard. The ethical terms facilitate social influence. Being suited for use in suggestion, they are a means by which men’s attitudes may be led this way or that. It very frequently happens that the same sentence may have a dynamic use on one occasion, and may not have a dynamic use on another; and that it may have different dynamic uses on different occasions.