Ethics

The branch of philosophy that deals with

morals, or principles of right and wrong.

Ethics

Subjective (adj.) – A matter of personal taste or opinion.Objective (adj.) – A matter of fact.

Subjective (adj.) – Dependent on the mind; belonging to the thinking subject rather than the object of thought.Objective (adj.) – Independent of the mind; belonging to the object of thought rather than the thinking subject.

Subjective vs. Objective

Disagreement does not lead to

subjectivity. People may disagree on the distance between the earth and the moon, but there is one correct measurement.

Principle No. 1

To say that something is subjective

is to say that nobody is right or wrong—people just view the object differently.

Subjective opinions are not binding on others. It would be like trying to correct someone’s taste in ice cream or music.

Principle No. 2

1. Pistachio nut ice cream tastes

good.2. Arsenic is poisonous.3. Water is essential to life.4. Abstract painting is not art.5. Country music is entertaining.6. Alcohol is intoxicating.

Which one is it?

7. Eating with one’s hands is rude.8. Smoking marijuana is wrong.9. My podium exists.10.Slavery is wrong.11.Math is boring.12.Stealing food from a starving child is

wrong.13.Torturing and raping innocent people

is evil.

Which one is it?

All morality is subjective. Objective morals exist. One cannot know. My judgment is suspended, or

“I’m still thinking about it.”

Possible Positions

“There is no physical evidence for

objective morals, and if there is no physical evidence for something, then it cannot be objectively true.”

This statement refutes itself, because it fails to pass its own standard.

Subjectivism

Various cultures have different

views on X. If various cultures have different

views on something, then no view is objectively true.

Therefore no view on X is objectively true.

Cultural Relativism

Humans are taught to believe X

from an early age. If humans are taught to believe

something from an early age, then it cannot be objectively true.

Therefore no view on X is objectively true.

Socialization

Nature has selected those humans who

believe in X, resulting in widespread belief in X.

If nature has selected those humans who believe something, resulting in widespread belief in it, then it cannot be objectively true.

Therefore no view on X is objectively true.

Natural Selection

“It is impossible to know anything

about morals.” The statement destroys itself,

because it presents itself as an item of knowledge about morals.

Agnosticism

“Objective morals exist.” (O) “How do you know.” (S) “I don’t know how I know.” (O) “Then you don’t know, because one has to

know how he knows something to know it.” (S) “That’s not true. I can’t explain how I know

what I’m thinking, but surely I know it. Therefore it is possible to know without knowing how. This is one of those instances.” (O)

Objectivism

“Given the variety of morals,

shouldn’t you doubt your so-called ‘knowledge.’”

“How do you know which morals are subjective and which are objective?”

“Can’t the subjectivist also say that he knows without knowing how?”

Problems for the Objectivist