Error Theory

Error Theory

Error theory basically states that all moral statements (e.g., "capital punishment is wrong") are false, because they all contain a false assumption.

The most widely known form of error theory comes from J.L. Mackie. Mackie argued that moral statements claim that the object of evaluation contains some sort of objective, intrinsic prescriptivity. For example, the statement, "Capital punishment is wrong," means, "Capital punishment contains an intrinsic property of ought-not-to-be-doneness." However, no intrinsic property of ought-not-to-be-doneness exists, so an assertion that capital punishment has this property must necessarily be false.

Similarly, "Everybody has an obligation to tell the truth," implies that truth-telling has an intrinsic property of ought-to-be-doneness. Intrinsic ought-to-be-doneness does not exist. Therefore, any assertion that truth has this property must be false.

Desire utilitarianism agrees with error theory that intrinsic ought-to-be-doneness and intrinsic ought-not-to-be-doneness do not exist. However, it denies that these elements are a part of the meaning of moral terms. "Capital punishment is wrong," does not mean "Capital punishment contains an intrinsic property of ought-not-to-be-doneness." Therefore, even though "Capital punishment contains an intrinsic property of ought-not-to-be-doneness" is false, "Capital punishment is wrong" is not necessarily false.