TED Talk – Monkeys and Morality

Development of Morality

Where Does Morality Come From? Always part of the world? Product of the minds of human beings? Are values objective, outside of human beings? Are values subjective, inside of human beings?

Objective Morality Three possibilities Come from supernatural being or beings Embedded in nature World and objects have value outside of human beings

Subjective Morality Strictly from inside human beings Only determined with the presence of conscious If no human beings, no values

Synthesis of Objective and Subjective A theory about the complexity of values Must have three things Thing of value, or the thing valued A conscious being who values or the valuer The context or the situation in which the valuing takes place Example: gold

Debating Nature of Morality

Where Does Morality Come From? Human needs and desires, based upon emotions and reason Accomplish more together than apart Good and bad to help them live successfully Sanctioned by leaders

Two Types of Morality Customary or Traditional Reflective Based on custom or tradition, accepted without analysis Reflective Careful evaluation of all moral issues regardless of tradition

Morality and the Law Not necessarily based on law Provides the basic reasons for significant laws Law is a public expression of and provides a sanction for social morality Examples where the law does not reflect morality?

Should human beings always be moral?

Do we Need to increase morality in society?

Where Do Your Values Come From? An Exercise in Drawing Where Do Your Values Come From?