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Where does morality come from?

stevevw

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They can be anything, as is very apparent any moral discussion uses differnet arguments.
So you're saying there is no independent measure apart from an individual's personal opinion.

You cant use arguments why rape is wrong? How horrible, you would commit rape if you didnt believe in "objective morality"?
I am not saying that. I am saying what is the difference under a subjective moral system between a personal opinion that rape is wrong or rape is OK to do. What is the determination that says what is right or wrong?

Right is determined by might (as is apparent by definition).
What's that got to do with what I am talking about. You're changing the subject.

Also, "white mans burden" is sprung out of a belief in "objective morality".
You still haven't answered the question. Is female circumcision morally wrong? Are the African tribes who practice this morally wrong and should cease to have this subjective moral view. If they are wrong by what measure are they wrong and does the west have the right to demand they stop and conform to the west version of morality. If so by what measure is the west claiming that they hold the key to moral truth.
 
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VirOptimus

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I certainly dont think the west hold the key to moral truth, do you?

I’m not sure how many times I have to say the same thing. All morals stand on the strength of their arguments. There are no universal truths regarding morals.
 
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Moral Orel

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I'm not sure about that. He has defined "subjective morality" as anything not dictated to us by a transcendent intelligent being. That is not identical to moral nihilism.
He described subjective morality as being based on likes, dislikes, and preferences; that is accurate. You said that by describing it in such a way he was conflating it with moral nihilism; that is inaccurate.

Now, he's concluded that if there is no transcendent being, then there is no objective morality, then morality is subjective, which is faulty (because it would still be subjective even with a god). But the description of what subjective morality states is accurate.
 
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Moral Orel

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I’m not sure how many times I have to say the same thing. All morals stand on the strength of their arguments. There are no universal truths regarding morals.
How do you make an argument using premises that aren't true?
 
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Speedwell

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He described subjective morality as being based on likes, dislikes, and preferences; that is accurate. You said that by describing it in such a way he was conflating it with moral nihilism; that is inaccurate.
Sorry, I still don't get it. Steve asserts that absent moral objectivity there can be no moral right or wrong. Why isn't that nihilism?
 
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2PhiloVoid

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yes, that's true and that is why it is good to have another person who can offer a different way of explaining things. I think I have more or less used this example but you say it better.

Oh, I don't know. I haven't had the chance to read everything you've written in this thread, but I think you've been doing fairly well, really.
 
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VirOptimus

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You've said repeatedly that morals can be argued, but since nothing is really good or bad, I don't understand what you're arguing with.
You can argue morals without just using "good", "evil" or "bad".

In fact, all do. You argue the consequenses, or how you want society to function.
 
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Moral Orel

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Sorry, I still don't get it. Steve asserts that absent moral objectivity there can be no moral right or wrong. Why isn't that nihilism?
It's everything that isn't objective morality, which is a lot of things. Either there are moral facts, or there are not. If you believe there are moral facts, then you're an objectivist. If you believe there are no moral facts, then you are a subjectivist. If there are no moral facts, then it isn't possible to be correct or incorrect, is it?
 
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Moral Orel

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You can argue morals without just using "good", "evil" or "bad".

In fact, all do. You argue the consequenses, or how you want society to function.
How about a brief example?
 
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Kylie

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And when those women who are being abused cry out for help, what do I do? Do I tell them that they should respect the morality of their abusers? Of course not. I step to help them. I stand with them as an ally, and I support them.

Just because morality is subjective doesn't mean I have to treat other people's moral viewpoints as equal to my own, PARTICULARLY if those morals result in people getting hurt.


You claim it is evidence, but it is not checkable or verifiable in any way. Sounds like opinion to me, and guess what? Opinion is subjective!


So what? Most people HAVE THE OPINION that what they think is good is good and what they think is bad is bad. It's still a subjective opinion.


Again, this is talking about what people prefer to think. Did you even read the article? Did you even read the first four words of the headline?


Argument from popularity again? Come on, why do you even try that?



The fact that it can work out better if people pretend there are objective morals doesn't mean that there really are objective morals.

So just about all the experts in the field of ethics and morality, the ones who understand and know best about morality think there is a good case for morals being objective.

The only case you made for that was your argument from popularity.

The rest was you arguing that there's a good case to pretend morals are objective. But I for one prefer to deal with reality, not pretend.


No, I said animals have what we could consider morality. I never said there morality MUST be similar to that of Humans. I was showing that when animals are faced with situations we would consider have a strong moral component, they react in ways that show that they have some kind of moral view.


I posted the link to show that there are philosophers out there who believe that morality is subjective, not objective.


And again I will point out that we see this. Different states in the USA have different laws about the death penalty. Some states think it is okay to execute certain criminals, while other states don't. If there really was an objective morality, then we would not see this discrepancy. It could be shown without any doubt using this objective morality whether it is right or wrong to execute certain criminals. Yet we do not see this. It is evidence for subjective morality.



And you are proceeding from a faulty premise - there is no ultimate right and wrong!


See my above comment about the abuse of women.

So what about those in other countries who believe that a woman should not have the same status as a male today. Do they have a right to hold that view under a subjective moral system?

I don't think they have the right to discriminate against women, no.


And that's exactly what we've seen in reality, isn't it?


But I can say that I THINK those views are wrong, I can explain why, and if enough people agree with me then we can work to change the society's views about that issue.

You seem to think that value is meaningless unless there is some outside source to assign that value. I, instead, think that the concept of value still has meaning if we are the ones assigning value.
 
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Kylie

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I can: childbirth. One of the most painful experiences humans can go through, but without it our species would go extinct. Also, more people obviously means more pain in the world.

As a mother, I can tell you that the pain I felt through childbirth has been more than made up for in the way my daughter enriches my life.
 
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the iconoclast

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Hey hey Saint

When i typed it into google it came up with "a person who has seen something happen and can give a first-hand description of it."

A percipient witness (or eyewitness) is one with knowledge obtained through his or her own senses (e.g., visual perception, hearing, smell, touch).

Check this out my dear.

1. An eye witness has his first hand description of an event written down by a writer. Why is this written statement not eye witnessed?

It's an option for Anglicans. I do not consider myself a Protestant.

God bless Anglicans. They are good ppl, I extend an olive branch to you. You are my brother, please be my friend.

You and I are on the same side.

So you are no protestant, does that mean you do not protest against the sale of indulgences, you insist that the Pope has authority over purgatory and that the Treasury of Merit has foundation in the Bible?

Do you accept transubstantiation?

Ps I have no issues with Catholics. They are family, considering how things are, We all need to team up.

For one thing, I don't have to feel myself trapped by the doctrine of Sola Scriptura

Trapped by scripture?!?!

My dear... I don't quite know what to say about that.

Christian scriptures are the sole infallible source of authority for Christian faith and practice. I mean the Holy Spirit is included but.... you have officially perplexed me.

so I don't have to worry about whether the Gospels are eyewitness accounts or not,

Yet here you are trying to justify it to me.

My dear it worries you.

You know what, go for it and Congrats on this freedom you believe you have.

or get fussed that anyone who suggests they may not be is trying to disprove the existence of Jesus or something lurid like that.

My dear you get fussed. All we have to do is go back to the subject of evolution to see passion from you.

One thing known about me is by disrespect for the theory of evolution and my passion to debate atheists who disrespect our Lord with impunity.

One thing I know about you. You have an issue with protestant and creationists.

I'm a pentecostal protestant creationist.
I believe the Bible is infallible.
I believe the only way to God is through Jesus.
I believe the earth was void before the fiats which were done in 7 days.

Why do you dislike us so? What happened for you to have this passion against the old guard protestant?

Cheers

Hey @Ken-1122. You are not forgotten.
 
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stevevw

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I certainly dont think the west hold the key to moral truth, do you?
Not really from the track record.

I’m not sure how many times I have to say the same thing. All morals stand on the strength of their arguments. There are no universal truths regarding morals.
I understand this. I was trying to get some clarification as to what is used to measure the strength of an argument regarding morality. Most people in an argument will back up what they say with some support rather than just a personal opinion as that doesn't carry much weight.
 
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