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There are objective moral facts. Religion underlies morality. People can appreciate the moral facts and can act morally.
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- Does god’s saying something is right make it right, or does god say something is right because it’s right?
- God says x is right then the fact that x is right
- The fact that x is right then morality dictates the moral facts then god drops out of the picture
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- the view that ultimately people can only have one aim: their self interest
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| Problem of Apparent Altruism |
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- apparently gratuitous help might be explained by the expectation of subsequent reciprocation, by the desire to gain respect or reputation, or by the expectation of a reward in a putative afterlife
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| On the gene-centric view, genes (the replicators) build organisms as vehicles for their “selfish purposes” |
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- Different cultures have different moral codes
- Therefore, there is no objective “truth” in morality. Right and wrong are only matters of opinion, and opinions vary from culture to culture
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| Consequences of Relativism |
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- No room to criticize other societies
- No room to criticize our own society
- There can be no moral progress
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12. Suppose it is true that people in different cultures express different opinions regarding what is right and wrong. Does it follow that there is no objective fact regarding what is right and wrong? Explain. |
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- Moral relativism:
- Different cultures have different moral codes
- Therefore, there is no objective “truth” in morality. Right and wrong are only matters of opinion, and opinions vary from culture to culture
- Consequences of relativism:
- No room to criticize other societies
- No room to criticize our own society
- There can be no moral progress
There is no objective fact regarding what is right or wrong. Use moral relativism to show differences in cultures and morality. Use Plato to show that devine command theory creates differences in cultures in regard to their gods causing different moral standards in each culture. |
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11. What is psychological egoism? In your view, what is the best argument in favor of psychological egoism? Is it a good argument? Explain. |
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- Psychological egoism: the view that ultimately people can only have one aim: their self interest
- Problem of Apparent altruism: apparently gratuitous help might be explained by the expectation of subsequent reciprocation, by the desire to gain respect or reputation, or by the expectation of a reward in a putative afterlife
- “selfless” actions have selfish motives
- People’s actions can’t help but derive from their own motives
- Evolution ensures that we are selfish
- On the gene-centric view, genes (the replicators) build organisms as vehicles for their “selfish purposes”
Argument for psychological egoism is apparent alturism. Is a good argument and can use selfish motives, evolution as evidence for good argument. |
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10. Suppose God doesn’t exist. Would it follow that there are no moral facts? Explain. |
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NO - Common sense morality:
- There are objective moral facts.
- Religion underlies morality.
- People can appreciate the moral facts and can act morally.
- (religion will be undermined if no god but membership will still remain for sense of community and people will resist changing their morals until the society norm is completely changed)
- Devine command theory:
- God is the source of morality.
- The moral facts depend upon God’s commands.
- (does somebody saying something is moral make it moral?)
- Plato’s Question:
- Does god’s saying something is right make it right, or does god say something is right because it’s right?
- God says x is right then the fact that x is right
- The fact that x is right then morality dictates the moral facts then god drops out of the picture
- (god witnessed moral acts then stated that they were moral so he didn’t initiate that they were moral)
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- Some different cultures that don’t believe in god still have moral facts and are unaffected by there not being a god (cults…)
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