philosophy

Definition

Hume's Guillotine

Hume’s Guillotine points out that there’s a fundamental gap between statements of fact (what is) and statements of value or morality (what ought to be).

  • Is statements are descriptive. They describe the world as it it. For example: “The environment is changing”.
  • Ought statements are prescriptive. They state how the world should be or what actions should be taken . For example: “We ought to preserve the environment”.