What is the difference between metaethics and normative ethics

According to this theory, our intuitive awareness of value, or intuitive knowledge of evaluative facts, forms the foundation of our ethical knowledge. This theory focuses on the inherent character of a person rather than on specific actions.

Teleological ethics and deontological ethics are also two concepts we encounter in normative ethics. In teleological ethics, the goodness or badness of action is determined by examining the consequences of that action, whereas, in deontological theories, the goodness or badness of action is determined by examining the action itself.

Therefore, we can consider Kantianism and intuitionism as non-teleological theories, and utilitarianism and virtue ethics as teleological theories. Metaethics is the study of the nature of ethics, whereas normative ethics is the study of ethical action. While metaethics analyzes the meaning of moral language and metaphysics of moral facts, normative ethics evaluates standards for the rightness and wrongness of actions.

Normative ethics is interested in determining the content of our moral behavior. Normative ethical theories seek to provide action-guides; procedures for answering the Practical Question "What ought I to do? The moral theories of Kant and Bentham are examples of normative theories that seek to provide guidelines for determining a specific course of moral action.

Think of the Categorical Imperative in the case of the former and the Principle of Utility in the case of the latter.

Normative ethics focuses on determining the content of our moral behavior, i. Moreover, it explores the set of questions that originate when considering how we ought to act, in terms of morality. Thus, normative ethics help us to decide good and bad. Teleological and deontological ethics are two branches of normative ethics. Teleological ethics determine the goodness or badness of action by examining its consequences whereas deontological ethics determine the goodness or badness of the action by examining the action itself.

Is it wrong to abort a child? Should capital punishment be legal? Metaethics is the study of how we engage in ethics. Thus, the metaethicist has a role more similar to a football commentator rather than to a referee or player. The metaethicist judges and comments on how the ethical game is being played rather than advancing practical arguments, or kicking the football, themselves.

For example, the metaethicist might comment on the meaning and appropriateness of ethical language, just as the football commentator might remark on the appropriateness of particular tactics or set-piece routines.

Applied Ethics is the study of how we should act in specific areas of our lives; how we should deal with issues like meat-eating, euthanasia or stealing. To use the football analogy, the applied ethicist kicks the philosophical football around just as a footballer kicks the ball on the field.