Cognitivism in ethics is the view that moral judgments, like "stealing is wrong," express beliefs about the world. These beliefs can be true or false, just like beliefs about the weather or the shape of the Earth. Cognitivism asserts that moral claims aim to describe some objective moral reality, even if people disagree about what that reality is. For example, someone who believes stealing is wrong thinks this belief corresponds to a real moral fact, not just a personal feeling. This contrasts with views that treat moral judgments as expressions of emotions or preferences, similar to saying "I like ice cream."