Prescriptivism
The meta-ethical position that moral statements are imperatives or prescriptions rather than descriptive propositions. 'You ought to keep promises' functions as a command 'Keep promises!' or 'Let me and everyone in similar circumstances keep promises!' Prescriptivism is non-cognitivist, denying moral statements are facts, yet allowing for moral logic and objectivity.
Real World
When a politician publicly pledges to cut carbon emissions, they are not merely describing a plan — they are prescribing action and implying that anyone in their position ought to do the same, illustrating Hare's universal prescriptivism.
Exam Focus
Distinguish prescriptivism from emotivism: stress that prescriptivism preserves logical universalisability, which emotivism lacks, for extra marks.
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