Without Explanation
February 8th, 2026
Emotivism gets much right and yet leaves much unrecognized. Human life is a complex picture. For what reason do we have these emotional reactions to “right” and “wrong”? Some of these reactions are innate to most humans; and then others are individual to each person and their makeup. Other reactions are socialized over time and outside of us. They are things we are socialized and conditioned to believe as they have been deemed preferable for the betterment of society. We teach them and pass them down.
Not directly related to emotivism is the “useful fiction” of free will. It may well be true that we do not have free will; that actions are determined and choices are made before we even have awareness of them. Yet, it is also true that if we believe ourselves to have free will, it changes how we act. One who believes in choice will act differently than one who believes they have no control of their life whatsoever. There is the potential to change and to influence life in unexpected ways. This reality is an important consideration, something that demonstrates further complexity than what may first have been seen.
It appears at times that those in philosophy and science think too deeply about a topic and lose sight of the bigger picture. There needs to be a tango of sorts between deep thinking and getting a more generalist outside view. There appears to be this drive in some to always seek to explain something, or find the answer to something, and yet the thing may be without explanation.
In the end, we may only be able to recognize and describe. To see what is before us and understand that things are simply as they are. Perhaps subject to change, but for now as they are.
© 2026 Austin Lochan Dodd