Emotivism is a theory in ethics that suggests moral statements do not express facts but rather emotional responses. According to this view, when someone says, "Stealing is wrong," they are not stating a fact but expressing disapproval of stealing. This means that moral judgments are more about personal feelings than objective truths. The theory was notably advanced by philosophers like A.J. Ayer and Charles Stevenson in the early 20th century. Emotivism implies that ethical discussions are often about persuading others to share one's feelings rather than discovering universal moral truths.