Emotivism is a meta-ethical theory that suggests moral statements do not express facts but rather emotional attitudes. According to this view, when someone says, "Stealing is wrong," they are not stating a fact but expressing disapproval of stealing. This theory emphasizes that moral judgments are subjective and reflect personal feelings rather than objective truths. Developed in the early 20th century, emotivism is often associated with philosophers like A.J. Ayer and Charles Stevenson. They argued that ethical language serves to influence others' emotions and actions rather than convey factual information. As a result, emotivism challenges traditional views of morality as grounded in objective standards.