Here's a breakdown:
Naturalism:
* Everything that exists, including moral values, can be explained by science and natural processes.
* Moral properties are ultimately based on natural properties, like pleasure, happiness, or well-being.
* Morality is objective and grounded in the natural world.
Non-naturalism:
* Moral properties or facts are fundamentally different from natural properties or facts.
* There is a "moral realm" separate from the physical world.
* Morality cannot be reduced to scientific or natural explanations.
* Morality might be objective, but it doesn't derive from natural facts.
Key Arguments for Non-naturalism:
* Moral Motivation: Naturalism struggles to explain why we feel obligated to act morally, as natural properties alone don't seem to motivate us.
* Moral Intuitions: Non-naturalists argue that our moral intuitions are evidence for a separate moral realm that cannot be explained by natural properties.
* Open Question Argument: This argument states that even if we define a moral property in natural terms (like "pleasure"), the question of whether it's *good* remains unanswered.
Examples of Non-naturalist Theories:
* Moral Realism: There are objective moral facts that exist independently of human perception.
* Moral Intuitionism: We have direct access to moral truths through intuition.
* Deontology: Moral duties are based on principles that are not reducible to natural properties.
Criticisms of Non-naturalism:
* Lack of Empirical Evidence: Non-naturalism is difficult to prove or disprove empirically.
* The "Ghost in the Machine" Problem: Some critics argue that it's unclear how a separate moral realm could interact with the physical world.
* Problems with Moral Intuition: Intuitions can be subjective and unreliable.
In Conclusion:
Non-naturalism offers a different perspective on morality, suggesting that moral properties are not merely a reflection of the natural world. It raises profound questions about the nature of reality and the meaning of moral values. Whether or not non-naturalism is ultimately true is a matter of ongoing debate in philosophy.