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UNL PHIL 106- Final Exam| Certified
Q&A 2026
Explain some objections to relativism - correct-answer--It holds that moral codes
are infallible (it is not possible to think that moral codes, individual or societal, are
never wrong)
-Relativism can't make sense of how we evaluate our own moral codes
-Relativism can't make sense of moral progress
-Relativism yields contraction
Relativism can't make sense of moral progress - correct-answer-1815-slavery is
okay
2015- slavery is not okay
Most people would consider that we have made progress from 1815 to 2015 but
a moral relativist can't take into account progress. This is because in 1815 society
said slavery was okay so a moral relativist wouldn't consider owning slaves to be
wrong
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Why would a dialogue between two people with different moral codes, one of
whom says "polygamy is right" and another of whom says, "Polygamy is wrong",
present a problem for ethical subjectivism? - correct-answer-It would present a
problem for ethical subjectivism because ethical subjectivism is the idea that
ethical truths are determined by standards an individual accepts. So, if person A
believes that polygamy is right than it would be considered an ethical truth just
because he accepts it. On the other hand, the claim that polygamy is wrong can
also be an ethical truth as long as person B accepts it. This presents a problem
because these both can't be ethical truths since they contradict one another.
A relativist would reply by reinterpreting:
"polygamy is always wrong by person's B standards"
"Polygamy is always right by person's A standards"
This not a good interpretation because it appears that Person A and Person B are
no longer disagreeing even though they still are
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What is expressivism? - correct-answer-When we make moral statements, we
aren't trying to describe the way the world is, we are expressing our emotions
How do expressivists analyze moral statements, such as my saying, "Murder is
wrong"? - correct-answer-They think we're saying "boo murder"
Do expressivists think there is objective moral truth? - correct-answer-No. Our
beliefs can be true or false, but our emotions cannot be.
What are some objections to expressivism? - correct-answer-1. When we ask
people what they mean by their moral statements, they often reject the
expressivist analysis
2. It is possible that on could sincerely make moral statements without having any
emotion or feel
3. expressionists are forced to conclude that arguments aren't valid
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Valid argument against expressivism - correct-answer-The truth of the premises
will guarentee the truth of the conclusion.
EX: 1. Socrates is a man
2. If someone is a man, they're mortal
C. Socrates is mortal
What is error theory? - correct-answer-Disagrees with expressivism because
when we make moral statements we are trying to descried the way the world is,
but there are no moral facts
How does error theory differ from expressivism? - correct-answer-Expressivism -
does not believe that moral statements express beliefs
Error Theory- Believe moral statements express beliefs but the beliefs are never
true
UNL PHIL 106- Final Exam| Certified
Q&A 2026
Explain some objections to relativism - correct-answer--It holds that moral codes
are infallible (it is not possible to think that moral codes, individual or societal, are
never wrong)
-Relativism can't make sense of how we evaluate our own moral codes
-Relativism can't make sense of moral progress
-Relativism yields contraction
Relativism can't make sense of moral progress - correct-answer-1815-slavery is
okay
2015- slavery is not okay
Most people would consider that we have made progress from 1815 to 2015 but
a moral relativist can't take into account progress. This is because in 1815 society
said slavery was okay so a moral relativist wouldn't consider owning slaves to be
wrong
,2|Page
Why would a dialogue between two people with different moral codes, one of
whom says "polygamy is right" and another of whom says, "Polygamy is wrong",
present a problem for ethical subjectivism? - correct-answer-It would present a
problem for ethical subjectivism because ethical subjectivism is the idea that
ethical truths are determined by standards an individual accepts. So, if person A
believes that polygamy is right than it would be considered an ethical truth just
because he accepts it. On the other hand, the claim that polygamy is wrong can
also be an ethical truth as long as person B accepts it. This presents a problem
because these both can't be ethical truths since they contradict one another.
A relativist would reply by reinterpreting:
"polygamy is always wrong by person's B standards"
"Polygamy is always right by person's A standards"
This not a good interpretation because it appears that Person A and Person B are
no longer disagreeing even though they still are
,3|Page
What is expressivism? - correct-answer-When we make moral statements, we
aren't trying to describe the way the world is, we are expressing our emotions
How do expressivists analyze moral statements, such as my saying, "Murder is
wrong"? - correct-answer-They think we're saying "boo murder"
Do expressivists think there is objective moral truth? - correct-answer-No. Our
beliefs can be true or false, but our emotions cannot be.
What are some objections to expressivism? - correct-answer-1. When we ask
people what they mean by their moral statements, they often reject the
expressivist analysis
2. It is possible that on could sincerely make moral statements without having any
emotion or feel
3. expressionists are forced to conclude that arguments aren't valid
, 4|Page
Valid argument against expressivism - correct-answer-The truth of the premises
will guarentee the truth of the conclusion.
EX: 1. Socrates is a man
2. If someone is a man, they're mortal
C. Socrates is mortal
What is error theory? - correct-answer-Disagrees with expressivism because
when we make moral statements we are trying to descried the way the world is,
but there are no moral facts
How does error theory differ from expressivism? - correct-answer-Expressivism -
does not believe that moral statements express beliefs
Error Theory- Believe moral statements express beliefs but the beliefs are never
true
