ABSTRACT
An important distinction between statements of fact and statements of value is widely recognized. Some philosophers are now saying that the distinction has been treated as more determinate than it is, but most philosophers would agree that the distinction is definite and important. Emotivists speak as if the main function of value statements is to arouse attitudes. A term is evaluative if its correct application to something not only indicates that the speaker has a certain attitude to that thing but also indicates that he would like other persons to share that attitude. The distinction between categorical and hypothetical imperatives is sometimes supposed to distinguish moral and non-moral value statements. It is tempting to suggest that ethical statements and terms are those affective statements and terms which are to the greatest degree evaluative. Infringements against a moral code are not all of course punished so extremely.
