Metaethics is a branch of philosophy that deals with the nature, scope, and meaning of moral judgment. It is one of the three branches of ethics studied by philosophers, the others being normative ethics and applied ethics. Metaethics is concerned with the abstract and theoretical aspects of morality, rather than specific moral issues. Some key questions that metaethics seeks to answer include:
- What is the nature of morality?
- Are moral values objective or subjective?
- How can we tell what is good from what is bad?
- What is the meaning of moral language?
Metaethics explores the assumptions underlying normative theories and seeks to understand the nature of moral thought, talk, and practice. It also examines the connection between values, reasons for action, and human motivation, asking how moral standards might provide us with reasons to do or refrain from doing as they demand. Overall, metaethics is a highly abstract and theoretical field that seeks to understand the foundations of morality itself.
