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Ethical Subjectivism

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 Contrary to the principle that there is objectivity in
morality.
 Meta-ethical Theory
 Theory about the nature of moral judgements.
 The truth or falsity of ethical propositions is
dependent on the feelings, attitudes, or standards
of a person or group of persons.
 Moral judgements simply describe our personal
feelings.
 Subjectivists hold that there is no such things as
objective right or real wrong.
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 The theory therefore proposes that
when we state that something is

morally good = approve of that thing

morally bad = disapprove of or do not
like that thing

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 Suggests that we are to identify our
moral principles by simply following our
feelings.
 It allows us to think for ourselves
because it implies that we need not
agree with culture or society.

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 It indicates that the mere fact that we like
something would make it good.
e.g. Drugs, Bullying, Slavery, Racism and
Discrimination
 Has implications that are contrary to what
we believe about the nature of moral
judgements.
e.g. Jack the Ripper

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We believe that the moral judgements we
make are not mere expressions of our
personal feeling.

In our sincere moral judgements, we

claim that the stance we choose does
represent the “truth.”

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Ethical Subjectivism also implies that each of us is
infallible so long as we are honestly expressing our
respective feelings about moral issues.

Subjectivism cannot account for the fact of

disagreement in Ethics.

The theory could have a dangerous implications in

moral education. Deficient in providing us any guide
on how to develop sensible and proper feelings.

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Ethics-without-feeling also appears to go against
Christian philosophy's emphasis on love, for love is
basically a strong liking desire, or emotion. Applied
religiously, exclusing feelings in moral living seems
to go against the biblical decree to worship and
serve God with a joyful heart or feeling.

Our moral compasses are also strongly influenced

by the fleeting forces of disgust, fondness, or fear.
Indeed, subjective feelings sometimes matter when
deciding right and wrong. Sometimes, cold,
impartial, rational thinking is not the only proper
way to make an ethical decision.
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The feelings or emotions involved in moral thinking
should be anchored on careful consideration of a full
range of right goals, including altruistic ones. This
consideration ought to mesh wirh an emotional
instinctive reaction that provides a motivation to act
ethically and correct injustices.

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