4.4 A.J. Ayer and Boo-Hurrah Ethics

Sir Alfred Jules Ayer (1910–1989) was an English philosopher and the creator of an ethical theory known as Boo-Hurrah EthicsA meta-ethical theory that focused on the function of moral statements., which was later added to by Charles L. Stevenson (1908–1979). This theory is also known as “EmotivismA theory that argues ethical statements are expressions of emotion.” (based on the word “emotion”), and it challenged traditional views about the notions of right and wrong. The theory gained prominence in the early-to-mid 20th century.

What Is Boo-Hurrah Ethics?

Boo-Hurrah EthicsIn Philosophy, the theory and study of morality and how we should behave. is known as a meta-ethical theory as it asks questions about what morality is, rather than which actions are right or wrong. The theory of Boo-Hurrah Ethics is also known as Emotivism (based on the word “emotion”), and the theory challenged traditional views about the notions of right and wrong.

Boo-Hurrah Ethics is a theory originally suggested by Ayer. He argued that moral statements such as “lying is wrong” do not describe objective facts in the world. Instead, they merely express an individual’s emotions or attitudes towards something. As such, saying “murder is wrong” is equivalent to saying “Boo to murder!”, and vice versa, saying “love is good” is essentially saying “Hurrah to love!” Hence the name “Boo-Hurrah Ethics”.

According to this view, moral language such as “good or bad”, “right or wrong”, does not describe objective truths; it simply reflects people’s personal feelings or attitudes.