Error Theory

Error theory, first systematically developed by philosopher J.L. Mackie, represents a distinctive position in meta-ethics that combines moral cognitivism with moral nihilism. The theory makes two fundamental claims:

1. Moral claims purport to state objective facts
2. All such claims are false because no objective moral facts exist

Core Arguments

The Argument from Queerness

The primary argument for error theory rests on what Mackie called the "argument from queerness," which consists of two components:

• Metaphysical Queerness: Objective moral properties would be fundamentally different from anything else in the universe, making them metaphysically suspect
• Epistemological Queerness: If moral properties existed, we would need a special faculty to perceive them, unlike our normal sensory or rational capacities

Practical Implications

Error theory has significant implications for:

• moral relativism
• moral realism
• practical reasoning

Distinctions from Other Theories

Error theory differs from other meta-ethical positions in important ways:

• Unlike moral relativism, it doesn't claim moral truths are relative to cultures or individuals
• Unlike non-cognitivism, it maintains that moral statements are truth-apt (capable of being true or false)
• Unlike moral realism, it denies the existence of objective moral facts

Contemporary Developments

Modern error theorists have expanded the theory's scope to address:

1. Revolutionary Fictionalism: Maintaining moral discourse while acknowledging its fictional nature
2. Conservationism: Preserving moral talk for its practical utility
3. Abolitionism: Advocating for the elimination of moral discourse

Criticisms

Several objections have been raised against error theory:

• The pragmatic argument that we need moral beliefs for social cohesion
• The phenomenological argument that moral experiences seem real
• The evolutionary ethics argument that moral beliefs serve adaptive functions

Historical Context

Error theory emerges from a broader philosophical tradition of:

• skepticism
• moral skepticism
• philosophical naturalism

Influence and Applications

The theory has influenced various fields:

• Legal philosophy
• political theory
• behavioral ethics
• decision theory

Legacy

Error theory continues to challenge our understanding of:

• The nature of moral claims
• The relationship between truth and morality
• The foundations of ethical behavior
• The role of moral discourse in society

The theory remains controversial but has contributed significantly to meta-ethical debates about the nature and status of moral claims, inspiring ongoing discussions about how we should understand and engage with moral discourse in light of its potentially erroneous nature.