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Noncognitivism is a philosophical doctrine within metaethics that denies moral statements possess cognitive or truth-apt properties. Instead of representing factual claims about moral reality, noncognitivists interpret moral sentences as expressions of emotional attitudes, preferences, or commands. For example, the statement "Stealing is wrong" is viewed not as a factual assertion but as an expression of disapproval or a moral attitude.

This perspective stands in contrast to cognitivism, which holds that moral statements can be true or false based on objective moral facts. Noncognitivists argue that moral language functions primarily to influence, inform, or express feelings rather than to state verifiable facts. The theory gained prominence through the work of philosophers such as A.J. Ayer and Charles L. Stevenson, who emphasized the emotive and prescriptive aspects of moral language.

Various forms of noncognitivism exist, including emotivism, which suggests moral statements are simply expressions of emotional states, and prescriptivism, which sees moral language as prescribing behavior. Critics often challenge noncognitivism on the grounds it struggles to account for moral knowledge and rational discourse, but proponents believe it better captures the nature of moral language and the role of moral discourse in human life.

Overall, noncognitivism offers a view of ethics that emphasizes the expressive, motivational, and functional aspects of moral language, rather than viewing morality as a system of objective truths. It remains a significant position in contemporary metaethical debates, contributing to ongoing discussions about the nature of moral judgments and their epistemological status.