The Moral Significance of the Emotions Analytical Essay by Shaad

This essay discusses the role that the emotions play in human understanding and conduct. It starts by pointing out that the British tradition of empirical scepticism does not preclude moral objectivity, and that Hume in particular lays much stress on the emotions as guiding towards moral truths. The writer then describes the moral subjectivism of the logical positivists and there efforts to dismiss the emotions as insignificant states of mind. Against this strain the essay presents the arguments of various realists and quasi-realists. Wiggins is shown to argue that moral judgments can be both subjective and objective at the same time, and where the emotions play the role of guiding the subjective impressions towards objectivity. Blackburn is shown to guide this line of reasoning towards practical and moral life, where the latter is shown to be the sublimation of the former, and is filtered through the emotions. Finally, Oakley is shown to describe the emotions in terms of strengthening of purpose. The conclusion drawn that morality is not a mere state of mind but describes the impulse to activity, which is also the embodiment of objectivity, and the emotions play a crucial role in guiding towards truth.