Benjamin

Hi all,

I was wondering: How many here are moral objectivists and who isn't (don't really want to say the 'r' word lest the world end *g*). Can people also indicate whether they are atheist, theist, etc. I am especially interested to hear from Theistic relativists(?) or atheistic objectivists.

Thanks!

Ben.

excreationist

I believe in a hybrid between egoism and long-term utilitarianism (maximizing long-term global happiness).
And I'm an atheist.

tanzer

I'm subjetivist. Have you read about Vahingers "As-If" (Als Ob) Philosophy? I don't believe in the distinction theists/nontheists. Hugs-

DRFseven

Atheist (technically agnostic) moral subjectivist. To me, relativism implies the idea that all morals are thought to be equally valid, while subjectivism acknowledges the individual's subjective interpretation of right and wrong and the idea that some behaviors are considered by the subjectivist to be right and others, wrong, based on experience.

pug846

Atheist - Moral Relativist.

SingleDad

Atheist. Subjectivist wrt values, relativist wrt laws, objectivist wrt strategy.

Howay the Toon

Atheist. Subjective values.

However this doesn't mean that ethics are just a matter of opinion. Our sense of ethics can largely (not entirely so don't sue me with counterexamples)be explained by an evolutionary hard-wiring of reciprocity and empathy. The ethical consequences are way too far embedded in our nature to be varied fundamentally by a whim. But Objective values implying that it is somehow a 'fact'about the world that stealing is 'wrong' seems absurd.

amatimasi

John Clay, what exactly do you mean by 'egoism'?

Guttersnipe

It depends, objective to what? Moral objectivism usually argues that morality is subject-independent, or objective to individuals. Relativist, on the other hand, usually hold that morality reduces to or is created by our beliefs. Of course, anyone who has read a few intro to philosophy books knows that relativism is 'the punching bag' of modern professional philosophers (though there are a few who ascribe to it). Most textbooks alot about 2-3 pages to debunking the theory, and I would agree with them that simple relativism is not realistic. However, neither would I claim morality to be subject-independent, or objective. It is, rather, subjective to the individual but objective to the individual's beliefs. A realistic moral theory must affirm what is important to us. And what we ultimately hold as important, and what ultimately determines our actions, is our desires and fears -- our longing to increase our happiness and minimize our suffering. These, in turn, can be explained as the means by which an instinct for survival and propagation manifests itself.

Skeptic -- evolutionary moralist, psychological egoist but with a neo-Benthamite (utilitarian) spin.

Ender

phenomenological existentialist.