• Tentang UGM
  • Simaster
  • IT Center
  • Webmail
  • KPI Filsafat
  • Informasi Publik
  • English
    • Bahasa Indonesia
    • English
Universitas Gadjah Mada Faculty of Philosophy
Universitas Gadjah Mada
  • Home
  • Profile
    • Overview
    • Our Dean’s Message
    • WHAT IS DISTINCT ABOUT US
    • INTERNATIONAL NETWORKS
    • CAMPUS FACILITIES
  • EDUCATION
    • STUDY PROGRAM
    • PROGRAMS
      • Degree
      • Non-Degree
    • ACADEMICS CALENDAR
  • RESEARCH
    • Religion Department
    • Eastern Department
    • Western Department
  • STUDENT
    • Campus Life
  • ALUMNI
  • Contact Us
  • Home
  • news
  • Faculty of Philosophy UGM’s Great Philosopher Discussion Explores J.L. Mackie’s Error Theory in Morality

Faculty of Philosophy UGM’s Great Philosopher Discussion Explores J.L. Mackie’s Error Theory in Morality

  • news
  • 28 May 2025, 09.35
  • Oleh: gloriabarus
  • 0

The Faculty of Philosophy at Universitas Gadjah Mada once again hosted its regular Great Philosopher discussion series, this time focusing on a significant topic in metaethics: the Error Theory of Morality by philosopher J.L. Mackie. The discussion took place at the Faculty of Philosophy Library Reading Room and was led by Gladwin Panjaitan as the speaker, with Alfred Brilian Bassang serving as moderator.

During the session, Gladwin reviewed J.L. Mackie’s ideas as presented in his book Ethics: Inventing Right and Wrong (1977), where Mackie proposed a skeptical moral approach he termed the Error Theory. This theory acts as a critical response to the then-dominant Emotivism by arguing that linguistic analysis alone is insufficient to fully grasp moral reality.

Gladwin explained that Mackie’s critique also touches on the longstanding debate between cognitivism and non-cognitivism in moral philosophy. “We talk as if moral values are objective, which means moral statements are cognitive. But since we are skeptical about morality, we must say that all moral statements are false,” he conveyed.

Although this view contradicts common sense, Mackie confidently presents strong philosophical arguments to support this skepticism. Among them are the facts that moral codes vary greatly across cultures and time, and that there is no firm ontological or epistemological foundation for universal moral values.

The Great Philosopher program is an initiative by the Faculty of Philosophy UGM to explore the thoughts of great world philosophers in a more critical and dialogical manner. The discussion also serves as a reflective and analytical space that enriches students’ understanding of the complexities inherent in various philosophical topics.

Tags: SDG 10: Berkurangnya Kesenjangan SDG 4: Pendidikan Berkualitas SDGs

Recent Posts

  • Faculty of Philosophy UGM Graduates 29 Bachelor Students, 20 with Cum Laude Honors
    May 28, 2025
  • Faculty of Philosophy UGM’s Great Philosopher Discussion Explores J.L. Mackie’s Error Theory in Morality
    May 28, 2025
  • Supporting Student Career Preparation, Faculty of Philosophy UGM Holds LinkedIn Workshop
    May 28, 2025
  • Philosophy Essay Competition 2025 Officially Opens: Participant Requirements and Submission Guidelines
    May 28, 2025
  • Philosophy Sports Week Continues with Badminton Competition
    May 28, 2025
Universitas Gadjah Mada

Universitas Gadjah Mada

Faculty of Philosophy

Jl. Olahraga , Bulaksumur, Yogyakarta 55281

Phone: (027)550068, 6491197, (MKWK/MPK) 557917, Fax. (0274)515368

E-mail: filsafat@ugm.ac.id

Tentang Kami

  • Sejarah
  • Struktur Organisasi
  • Visi dan Misi
  • Tenaga Pendidik

Informasi Publik

  • Daftar Informasi Publik
  • Alur dan Prosedur Permohonan Informasi
  • Daftar Informasi Tersedia Secara Berkala
  • Daftar Informasi Tersedia Setiap Saat

© 2023 Faculty of Philosophy Universitas Gadjah Mada

KEBIJAKAN PRIVASI/PRIVACY POLICY