Non-cognitivism is a philosophical view in ethics that suggests moral statements do not express beliefs that can be true or false. Instead, these statements are seen as expressions of emotional attitudes or prescriptions for action. For example, when someone says, "Stealing is wrong," a non-cognitivist would argue that this statement reflects the speaker's disapproval of stealing rather than a factual claim about stealing itself. This perspective contrasts with cognitivism, which holds that moral statements can be objectively true or false. Non-cognitivism is often associated with philosophers like A.J. Ayer and Simon Blackburn, who emphasize the role of emotions and attitudes in moral discourse.