Introduction to Philosophy Week Four

Morality: Objective, Relative or Emotive? Dr. Matthew Chrisman

Empirical Judgments The earth and other planets rotate around sun. There are + and - electrical charges. Some traits in plants are genetically inherited. The so-called “God” particle is real.

6 feet = 72 inches Empirical Judgments Lead is heavier than iron. It was sunny in Edinburgh today. I am less than 6 feet tall.

Moral Judgments Giving to charity is morally good. Taking care of your children is morally required. Protesting injustice is morally right.

Moral Judgments Cain killing Abel out of jealousy was morally wrong. Oedipus sleeping with his mother was morally bad. Genocide is morally abhorent. Polygamy is morally dubious

A.Are they the sorts of judgments that can be true or false – or are they mere opinion? B.If they can be true/false, what makes them true/false? C.If they are true, are they objectively true? Empirical JudgmentsMoral Judgments 1.The earth rotates around the sun. 2.It was sunny in Edinburgh today. 3. Genocide is morally abhorrent. 4. Polygamy is morally dubious. Three questions about these judgments:

Two Examples Genocide is morally abhorrent. Polygamy is morally dubious. Three Questions A.Are they the sorts of judgments that can be true or false – or are they mere opinion? B.If they can be true/false, what makes them true/false? C.If they are true, are they objectively true?

Objectivism Basic idea: our moral judgments are the sorts of things that can be true or false, and what makes them true or false are facts that are generally independent of who we are or what cultural groups we belong to – they are objective moral facts.

“The earth rotates around the sun.” Capable of being true/false. Made true by relative trajectory of earth and sun. Objectively true.

“Genocide is morally wrong.” Objectivism: Capable of being true/false. Made true by wrongness of genocide. Objectively true.

“Polygamy is morally dubious.” Objectivism: Capable of being true/false. Made true/false by the morality of polygamy. Objectively true.

Relativism Basic idea: our moral judgments are indeed true or false, but they’re only true or false relative to something that can vary between people.

“One must drive on the left.” Capable of being true/false Made true by laws in force in particular jurisdictions True relative to jurisdiction

“Polygamy is morally dubious.” Relativism: Capable of being true/false. Made true by particular subjective feelings. True relative to personal feelings.

“Oedipus’ sleeping with his mother was morally bad.” Relativism: Capable of being true/false. Made true by particular subjective feelings. True relative to personal feelings.

Subjectivism A form of Relativism Basic idea: our moral judgments are indeed true or false, but they’re only true or false relative to the subjective feelings of the person who makes them. “X is bad” = “I dislike X”

“Okra is yummy.” Subjectivism: Capable of being true/false. Made true by particular subjective feelings. True relative to personal feelings.

Cultural Relativism A form of Relativism Basic idea: our moral judgments are indeed true or false, but they’re only true or false relative to the culture of the person who makes them. “X is bad” = “X is disapproved of in my culture.”

“Polygamy is morally dubious.” Cultural Relativism: Capable of being true/false. Made true by marriage customs in particular cultures. True relative to cultures.

Emotivism Basic idea: moral judgments are neither objectively true/false nor relatively true/false. They’re direct expressions of our emotive reactions.

“Okra is gross.” Emotivism: Not capable of being true/false. Direct expression of emotive reaction.

“Polygamy is morally dubious.” Emotivism: Not capable of being true/false. Direct expression of emotive reaction.

Three Questions about Moral Judgments A.Are they the sorts of judgments that can be true or false – or are they mere opinion? B.If they can be true/false, what makes them true/false? C.If they are true, are they objectively true?

Three Approaches to these Questions Objectivism Basic idea: our moral judgments are the sorts of things that can be true or false, and what makes them true or false are facts that are generally independent of who we are or what cultural groups we belong to – they are objective moral facts.

Three Approaches to these Questions Objectivism Basic idea: our moral judgments are indeed true or false, but they’re only true or false relative to something that can vary between people. Relativism

Three Approaches to these Questions Objectivism Basic idea: moral judgments are neither objectively true/false nor relatively true/false. They’re direct expressions of our emotive reactions Relativism Emotivism

Morality: Objective, Relative or Emotive?

Three Approaches to the Status of Morality: Objectivism Relativism Emotivism Compare: empirical judgments about the world. Compare: judgments about what’s legal. Compare: Boo for that! Hooray for this!

Objectivism Challenge: Important difference between how we determine whether something’s morally right/wrong how we determine whether an empirical claim is true/false. Can Objectivists explain this intuitive difference? Basic idea: our moral judgments are the sorts of things that can be true or false, and what makes them true or false are facts that are generally independent of who we are or what cultural groups we belong to – they are objective moral facts.

Relativism Challenge: It seems like there’s such a thing as moral progress. Can Relativists explain this possibility? Basic idea: our moral judgments are indeed true or false, but they’re only true or false relative to something that can vary between people.

Emotivism Challenge: It seems like we can use reason to arrive at our moral judgments like we use reason to arrive at our empirical judgments. But how can Emotivists explain this intuitive similarity? Basic idea: moral judgments are neither objectively true/false nor relatively true/false. They’re direct expressions of our emotive reactions.

Three Approaches to the Status of Morality: Objectivism Relativism Emotivism Challenge: explain difference in method of determining what the facts are. Challenge: explain possibility of moral progress. Challenge: explain possibility of using reason to answer moral questions.