Moral philosophy is the study of ethics in relation to the ultimate questions of morality. There are two main branches of thought being Metaethics and Normative Ethics.
Metaethics:
Question: What is the nature and methodology of moral judgement?
The study of Metaethics studies the nature and methodology of moral decision and judgment and asks questions along the lines of:
What does “good” and “ought,” mean?
Can we justify moral truths?
Whether there is rationality between right and wrong?
A metaethical view normally consists of two conjoining parts.
1. The definition of “good” choices.
2. The selection of moral principles.
Methods of consonance often base morality on social convention, self-evident truths, God’s will, or personal feeling.
Normative Ethics:
Question: What underlying principles should we live by?
The study of normative ethics is broken down into two levels.
1. Normative Theory – We should maximize everyone’s happiness.
2. Applied Normative Ethics – Studies particular areas such as abortion, suicide and depression.
Both levels defend moral principles and are justifiable ways to explain moral action.
Summary
- Metaethics is the study of nature and methodology of moral judgement and choice. Its main purpose is to justify and rationally defend beliefs about right and wrong.
- Normative ethics is the study how we ‘ought’ to live. It characterises social normality and looks for constraint in arguments about what is worthwhile, right and wrong, just and virtuous.