R.M. Hare's metaethical theory that moral statements are primarily prescriptions or commands rather than descriptions of facts. Moral judgments guide action by telling people what to do, similar to imperatives.
From Latin 'praescriptus' (written before, prescribed) and '-ism'. Developed by R.M. Hare in the 1950s-60s as a refinement of emotivism, emphasizing the action-guiding function of moral language over mere emotional expression.
Prescriptivism explains why moral judgments feel more serious than mere preferences - when you say 'lying is wrong,' you're not just expressing distaste but issuing a universal prescription that applies to everyone, including yourself!
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