Moral Relativity?

[Naeo]

Let's not confuse "moral relativity" with "extenuating circumstances"--that can get tricky. But assuming that's not at hand, moral relativity is generally bullshit in how it's applied. It usually boils down to "well it's okay because that's how they normally/usually/always do it over there" or some justification for "we shouldn't be intervening because X is just their way of life," even when X is things like throwing people in prison for being gay or granting almost no rights to women or deciding that "hey, you have not lived up to my expectations as a son/daughter/brother/sister, so I am duty-bound to kill you" or the like. On small things, like whether you shake someone's hand or bow or do the kiss-on-the-cheek business, moral relativity (if even applicable) is not of any consequence, since no one is anything more than somewhat awkward after getting one when expecting another. But when it comes to something that is actively infringing on someone's rights or actively harming someone (murder, violence, rape, any form of abuse, theft, defamation, etc), it's absolutely wrong--but, let's not forget those magical words, "extenuating circumstances." It's why things like murder in self-defense is acceptable, or stealing a loaf of bread to feed your starving family, or hitting someone because you had good reason to believe they were going to hurt you in some way.

But as pertains to this topic: trying to argue that moral relativity in the sense of "well MY morals dictate X so it's okay for me to do X" is absolutely bullshit, and people trying to pass that off as justification are idiots. Yes, harsh wording, but I stand by it. It's an immature, childish, selfish, egocentric and frankly ignorant viewpoint to take.

 

[Smiley Face]

Oh no... have we hit the religion point now? I was hoping it would, you know, last longer before this changed from an objectivist/subjectivist/whateverist argument into a religious one. I'm sort of torn on whether or not I should jump in or backpedal.

So I won't do either, I'll wait until someone else does that. Although I don't think I've ever been in a proper religious debate, so when it eventually gets there, that'll be fun.

Maybe if it gets into the religious bit, it could keep the OT in mind?

Ah well, 'night all.

EDIT: Oh look, we're back on track, never mind!

Re-EDIT: Or not. Well, maybe we'll get both.

 

[Smiley Face]

But as pertains to this topic: trying to argue that moral relativity in the sense of "well MY morals dictate X so it's okay for me to do X" is absolutely bullshit, and people trying to pass that off as justification are idiots. Yes, harsh wording, but I stand by it. It's an immature, childish, selfish, egocentric and frankly ignorant viewpoint to take.

Yeah, going to jump in here and deliver something succinct, that's something that gets thrown around a lot and is pretty silly.

1) If you believe it's morally acceptable to kill puppies, well, you'll probably think it's okay to do so, so I guess such a person would actually argue that way.
2) Despite your claims to morality, the law will still punish you, not on the grounds of morality, but on the grounds of you being a public menace, a danger to others, in need of rehabilitation, to make you an example, a violator of animal rights, etc. The law will punish you for the common good, and it will do so because that's the reasonable thing to do in the situation, even if morality is taken out of the question.

 

[Samurai Goomba]

Here's how to work around the "subjective morality" when it comes to stuff like murder.

"My morality teaches me that murder is okay, because morality is subjective."

"Well, MY morality is every bit as valid as yours (because subjective=subjective) and it says that murder is not okay. Since I have the power to send you to prison for murder, I'm going to do that now. Have fun debating subjective morality in prison, because in the end the power given to me by the populace speaks louder than your beliefs."

And, natch, there is the whole thing about how you can believe whatever you want, but when your beliefs actively harm other people, somebody is going to step in and stop you.

 

[Smiley Face]

Quotes-within-quotes and lots of text and stuff

Why does "objectivity" have to conflict with "practicality". Why couldnt the practical nature of a course of actions REINFORCE the objective nature of those same actions?

Also you dont need a "Big Book of GOOD and EVIL". I've summed it up in 2 sentences. Perhaps we could BOTH AGREE that anything beyond that is indeed "superfluous, contrived, and laughable".

Here's the thing though - you have summed up some of the most basic tenets of conventional morality (I assume by your '2 sentences' you mean when you said "It is immoral to intentionally and/or knowingly harm another innocent and nonthreatening person for your own amusement or benefit. It is moral to help another person especially when not expecting nor are otherwise aware of a direct and immediate return benefit for yourself.")

The problem is that, while this is your opinion, it isn't a fact. You have to prove that this is a truth about the nature of reality on the same level that the laws of gravity are if you want it to be objective truth. I could agree that those are good things. Everyone in the whole world could agree those are good things. But doing that doesn't make them a universal law in the same way that gravity is. Objective morality means that there are answers to what is right and wrong that apply to everyone, at every time, from every culture. These answers can never change, and have to actually be built in to reality, because if they're not, they're just part of the subjective human experience. Moreover, in order to make any claims about them, you have to be able to demonstrate the actuality and the nature of this moral-rules-built-into-reality thing. You haven't done that.

Religions try to get around this by going 'God says X is right and Y is wrong', and using that as their objective standard. This runs into problems in that it's tricky to prove that what you're touting stems directly and unalteredly from a divine force and not a 1500-year dead liar, and even once you're there you run into the Euthyphro Dilemma that's being thrown around, although that one is, in my opinion, resolvable.

 

[TomLikesGuitar]

I was having a discussion with my friend about his justifications for piracy, and he told me a story about "moral relativity." Basically it went that these two people murdered someone, and they claimed that it was because of moral relativity, and the judge gave them a very short sentence instead of life. If you don't know what it is, it's the belief that you can't impose your own morals on someone because there are no set morals for anyone. This was literally his only justification.

I do believe that people have different sets of morals, but I don't buy that someone could believe murder is good.

So what's your take on moral relativity?

Moral (cultural) relativity is a topic of frequent debate between sociologists.

At the moment, it is impossible to prove if any morality is hard-wired or environmental, so it's not really worth arguing about.

However, there are completely sane tribes in Africa where the adult males rape the young males at a certain age to "bring them into manhood", there are people who eat their dead, and there are places where beating your wife is commonplace, so the idea that morality could be relative to an environment or culture is not as far-fetched as you make it out to be.

 

[Agayek]

The problem is that, while this is your opinion, it isn't a fact. You have to prove that this is a truth about the nature of reality on the same level that the laws of gravity are if you want it to be objective truth. I could agree that those are good things. Everyone in the whole world could agree those are good things. But doing that doesn't make them a universal law in the same way that gravity is. Objective morality means that there are answers to what is right and wrong that apply to everyone, at every time, from every culture. These answers can never change, and have to actually be built in to reality, because if they're not, they're just part of the subjective human experience. Moreover, in order to make any claims about them, you have to be able to demonstrate the actuality and the nature of this moral-rules-built-into-reality thing. You haven't done that.

I fully intend to stay out of this debate, but I have to point out one thing:

You cannot relate gravity to morality. Gravity is a physical, testable effect on reality. Morality is an idea. You can no more prove (or disprove) the existence of objective morality than you can the existence of God. It's purely conceptual, and thus cannot be proven or disproven.

That said, morality is (almost certainly) an evolved trait in the human psyche. It's objective insofar as one's need for socializing is objective. It's simply hardwired into the vast majority of humanity that some things are good and some things are bad. There's plenty of room for debate about the subjectivity of it, as everyone has different reactions to violations of moral guidelines, but every single individual a competent psychologist would declare mentally sound agrees on a handful of salient points. Specifically: "murder is bad" and "protect the children" (amongst others, but these are the most prominent). These have been literally hardwired into our brains through thousands upon thousands of years of evolution.

If that doesn't count as objective standards, this debate cannot ever be decided.

 

[Spinozaad]

Might have been said before, but I did not read 7 pages of posts.

The problem with relativism is that it is self-defeating beyond a certain point. While it is wise to acknowledge that no opinion, standard or culture is superior in an absolute sense. That is, acknowledged by all to be true.

This is because what constitutes ethics and aesthetics are what W.B. Gallie dubbed 'Essentially Contested Concepts'. If you want to know what he means, get together a random group of ten people, and try to find a definition of 'democracy' or 'beauty' that is completely accepted and adopted by all. You'll see that an absolute definition is impossible.

As for moral relativism, all moral is equal from an Archimedean Point. If you take the view from nowhere, there are no grounds to judge the cannibal for murdering an American prospector, or the American prospector for not murdering and eating the cannibal.

However, and here's the fallacy inherent to (moral) relativism pushed too far: there is no such thing as an Archimedean Point, there is no view from nowhere when human beings are concerned. I think the most extreme moral relativist position you can take that is still viable, is something like this:

You can't morally judge two cannibals in Cannibalistan for murdering and eating an American tourist who was visiting Cannibalistan on his own free will, and who was aware of the cultural habit of eating American tourists.

Or, to put it out of the hypothetical sphere: you can't blame the people in Islamistan for stoning women who went outside without a male family member. But that, too, feels wrong.

So while relativism is (I think) right on an abstract level, if is wrong when translated to every day human practice. And I personally think that all philosophy should serve practical reality, and not the other way around.

 

[JoJo]

Just declaring that doesn't make it true. What reason is there to believe that claim? You have no proof that it is so.

Prove it.

You can't, and that is the point.

Happier is not inherently better; your value system simply states it is.

Both of you are seriously asking me to prove that happiness is better?! Well, do you prefer being happy or unhappy? That should give you the answer ;-)

And just a heads up, but I'm going to bed now so any more replies from me won't come for the best part of half a day, take that as you will.

But that isn't proof. There is no reason to believe that whatever I desire is somehow an objective moral fact. This is especially evident since people's desires can conflict, so what people want clearly is not a consistent or reliable source for truth. Using what people prefer as a source of truth is quickly dismissed by it being contradictory.

People's desires do conflict, but there is always one single root towards the maximum happiness. I won't pretend to know what that always is, I believe I have a good idea but you would need to know everything to see the best course of action every time.

There's no reason to believe there is one way to maximum happiness. Further, you have yet to establish that maximum happiness is best. So far your only argument for it involves people's desires. But I've pointed out that is a flawed basis to determine truth.

I disagree, by sheer probability what do you think the chances are of two actions leading to exactly the same and highest amount of happiness? Hugely low, even if the difference is tiny that still means there is one best course of action. Maximum happiness is what sentient creatures such as ourselves prefer, if two wishes conflict then the one that will cause the least harm should prevail. I have already established that sentient creatures desire what they prefer, that is an objective fact shown by people aiming for what they want every day.

 

[JoJo]

Just declaring that doesn't make it true. What reason is there to believe that claim? You have no proof that it is so.

Prove it.

You can't, and that is the point.

Happier is not inherently better; your value system simply states it is.

Both of you are seriously asking me to prove that happiness is better?! Well, do you prefer being happy or unhappy? That should give you the answer ;-)

And just a heads up, but I'm going to bed now so any more replies from me won't come for the best part of half a day, take that as you will.

But that isn't proof. There is no reason to believe that whatever I desire is somehow an objective moral fact. This is especially evident since people's desires can conflict, so what people want clearly is not a consistent or reliable source for truth. Using what people prefer as a source of truth is quickly dismissed by it being contradictory.

People's desires do conflict, but there is always one single root towards the maximum happiness. I won't pretend to know what that always is, I believe I have a good idea but you would need to know everything to see the best course of action every time.

There's no reason to believe there is one way to maximum happiness. Further, you have yet to establish that maximum happiness is best. So far your only argument for it involves people's desires. But I've pointed out that is a flawed basis to determine truth.

I disagree, by sheer probability what do you think the chances are of two actions leading to exactly the same and highest amount of happiness? Hugely low, even if the difference is tiny that still means there is one best course of action. Maximum happiness is what sentient creatures such as ourselves prefer, if two wishes conflict then the one that will cause the least harm should prevail. I have already established that sentient creatures desire what they prefer, that is an objective fact shown by people aiming for what they want every day.

Now you're being pretty damn dishonest.

I'm disappointed, up until now you've argued well without resorting to personal attacks or slurs, unlike several other posters on this thread.

I didn't ask you to prove that they desire what they prefer. I asked you to prove that maximum happiness is what is best. And I pointed out that desire and preferrence don't work as a basis for establishing truth. So going on about it being what is desired and/or preferred is irrelevant.

Sentient creatures want what they prefer. Sentient creatures prefer happiness. Therefore sentient creatures want to be happy. As we are sentient creatures, it therefore makes sense to aim for goals that maximise happiness, so as many sentient creatures will get what they want as possible. The only way this isn't the "best" option is if you ignore our sentient values and desires, which is quite frankly pointless as morality means nothing to a plant or a rock, as useless are trying to study video game design from the point of view of a cheese sandwich.

 

[Bunnymarn]

Cut

Cut

So far as I understand the conslusions of certain games theorists, the "possitive value" is a consequence of cooperation. Ignoring results one can say that the action is also possitive, but without taking the effects into account I would say that determination IS subjective.

Your "Island Senario" does bring up some interesting points. However, the "necessary action" leading to "automatic success" (survival) for the other two individuals I feel is a bit contrived or short sighted. What if the individual that is eaten had a disease that then kills the other two? What if the castaways discover that they can build a raft to escape the island but they need 3 people to built it properly, or there is a large creature living on the island or in the surrounding water that requires 3 people to kill it? Then, you have a situation where murder ultimately doomed all three people rather than saved two. Usually it's water and not food that is the limiting factor in survival situations anyway. An island with enough water to support 2-3 people should also support an ecosystem that produces a significant ammount of food.

I am not sure why morality and utilitarianism have to be at odds. I dont see the statement, "The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few" as an immorral statement. An actual murder usually doesnt even benefit the individual commiting it; usually it turns out to be the opposite. If there is a senario where killing 1 person is necessary to save the lives of more than 1 person with no other alternatives, then I would say that act is not immoral. It is immoral to take someone's freedoms away from them, but we've deemed it necessary and benefitial to put certain individuals in jail, and I do believe we are better off because of this practice. Even the justice system requires the cooperation of a great many individuals in order to work. No developed society is dependant on 1 person acting as police officer, judge, lawyer, and prison warden.

Maybe morality is subjective if you restrict it to actions. Maybe "objective morality" exists in results and effects. Maybe that's one reason why morality gets "confused". People want a list of actions they can and cannot do that no matter what will be moral, and insisting on such a list is an act of subjectivity.

I just am tossing that last part out there, as I am not 100% sure of it. Hence, all of the "maybes".

Also I am ready to have the "altruism vs rationalized self-interest" debate, so BRING IT ON!

See, I would see it the other way around when it comes to morality. If there is an objective morality, then, to me, it would only be taking into account the action. If it took into account the effects, then it would have to predict/foresee every possible outcome to determine whether there is an exception to something like "murder is wrong".

I wasn't really concerned about possibilities and the actual reality for my hypothetical situation (I know it is realistically wrong). I was just simply asking whether two people killing one to save themselves would be moral. Though, I'm not sure that really comes into the realm of morality (someone correct me?). The point I'm trying to make is that 'objective' morality/ies (such as the Bible, as people claim it is), seems to me to be completely based on the action. For example, the "keep the Sabbath day holy" commandment is only about the action. From it, you must conclude that working on Sunday would be a sin/immoral or whatever (if you believe in God). But what about places like hospitals? Should they really shut-down on Sundays, regardless of the consequences, just because God deemed that you can't work on Sunday?

That's why I think morality based on action and consequences must be subjective, since it's up to a person/society's perceptions of both the action itself and, more importantly, the actual results of the action which will deem whether or not something is moral or immoral.

Also, I take it that you're more on the side of objective morality (sorry if that's wrong or if you have already stated that you are), so I have to ask you: if there is an objective morality, why does it matter to me as a thinking, subjective individual?

1) Yes, I do.
2) Here is the entire list of objective rules I follow:

Do undo others as you would have them do to you

I follow it best I can. Questions?

Are you honestly saying that if I don't mind my possessions being stolen, it's completely fine for me to go and steal from others?

My whole argument is based on the existence of an absolute, sovereign, creative God, who creates the rules, and expects us to live by them. While you may not agree with that, I do have a flawless system of objective morals provided by God, and nothing you can say will ever undermine that argument. Just saying: "Well, I choose not to believe in God" and "Well, you can't say that cause I don't believe in God" just doesn't cut it. WHY doesn't God exist? Give me something solid please. I have yet to see anyone else (including grichnoch and monkeygh) give anything close to the definitive system of morals and beliefs that I have.

Can I ask, this God of yours, does he have a divine plan for you or any expectations that you must abide by? And why is this God's existence more valid than Thor or Amun Re or Allah or Tlaloc, and so on?

Sorry, but one last question: how can you assert that your system of morality is 'flawless'? How do you know God didn't just feel like being an ass and deliberately mislead you? (I don't mean any offence, just a hypothetical).

 

[Logiclul]

Well the guy really makes my sister happy. And I don't really know if her judgment is wrong or not, I just know that in my opinion it likely is. Also if I'm defending her rights, shouldn't I be allowing her the right to make her own decisions (she is 18 and an adult, after all). He has made others girls happy before and still turned rotten though.

It seems like subjectively I should intervene, but objectively I should not.

It sounds like you are just trying to be a good bro (which is what I would do). While you may say that my point will sound like i'm advocating subjectivity, just hear me out.

What I would do is discuss it with her, tell her your thoughts, your concerns, your reasonings, and ask her to not go with him. At this point you have done all in your respective power to defend her, but the choice is ultimately with her. While you have obeyed a moral law, you need not be concered how it turns out (in respect to obedience. as a brother you should be very concerned.)

What I'm driving at is this: Whether or not she decides to go with the "jerk" or not, if you have done everything in your power (that is, not having gone to the point where you have to force her) to defend by informing her then you have lived by that objective standard. Regardless of what happens next, you still did it. And therefore it can vary on a case by case basis, but the requirement is still to obey the moral law.

Well you certainly solved my problem, and for that I thank you, but what moral code guided you? Certainly not one which was adapted from society...?

@bunnymarn There is a difference between believing that there is a God and being Christian (where you assume a purely good God). Hypotheticals like that then get thrown out from a Christians' perspective.

 

[Smiley Face]

My whole argument is based on the existence of an absolute, sovereign, creative God, who creates the rules, and expects us to live by them. While you may not agree with that, I do have a flawless system of objective morals provided by God, and nothing you can say will ever undermine that argument. Just saying: "Well, I choose not to believe in God" and "Well, you can't say that cause I don't believe in God" just doesn't cut it. WHY doesn't God exist? Give me something solid please. I have yet to see anyone else (including grichnoch and monkeygh) give anything close to the definitive system of morals and beliefs that I have.

Can I ask, this God of yours, does he have a divine plan for you or any expectations that you must abide by? And why is this God's existence more valid than Thor or Amun Re or Allah or Tlaloc, and so on?

This right here. I'm not going to get into the debate of WHETHER a divine force created the world, but the thing is, you have to demonstrate three things:

1) Whether there is a divine force
2) That the divine force in existence is the one YOU think it is - not a non-interactionist force that just started the ball rolling and left it there, and not my personal favourite, THE ALMIGHTY ZEUS.
3) That your idea of Divine Mandate (i.e. the bible) is the correct, verbatim, word of god, and not a misinterpretation or a downright lie. Short argument here: The bible claims to be the word of god. But, the bible was written by people. And people LIIIIEEEEEE. So, it isn't a necessary truth even in the case of the existence of a specific god.

The third one is the kicker in my opinion. Ultimately, short of Direct Divine Revelation, the justification people have for believing religious tenets is because a) they don't seem to be objectionable at first glance, and b) because someone told them it was true. This is not correct ground for metaphysical fact.

Not that I want to belittle anyone's faith, that's just the way I see it.

 

[JoJo]

1) Yes, I do.
2) Here is the entire list of objective rules I follow:

Do undo others as you would have them do to you

I follow it best I can. Questions?

Are you honestly saying that if I don't mind my possessions being stolen, it's completely fine for me to go and steal from others?

No, because that would make them unhappy (assuming they don't want their possessions being stolen), and you wouldn't want anyone to make you unhappy, so you'd still be breaking the rule.

Just declaring that doesn't make it true. What reason is there to believe that claim? You have no proof that it is so.

Prove it.

You can't, and that is the point.

Happier is not inherently better; your value system simply states it is.

Both of you are seriously asking me to prove that happiness is better?! Well, do you prefer being happy or unhappy? That should give you the answer ;-)

And just a heads up, but I'm going to bed now so any more replies from me won't come for the best part of half a day, take that as you will.

But that isn't proof. There is no reason to believe that whatever I desire is somehow an objective moral fact. This is especially evident since people's desires can conflict, so what people want clearly is not a consistent or reliable source for truth. Using what people prefer as a source of truth is quickly dismissed by it being contradictory.

People's desires do conflict, but there is always one single root towards the maximum happiness. I won't pretend to know what that always is, I believe I have a good idea but you would need to know everything to see the best course of action every time.

There's no reason to believe there is one way to maximum happiness. Further, you have yet to establish that maximum happiness is best. So far your only argument for it involves people's desires. But I've pointed out that is a flawed basis to determine truth.

I disagree, by sheer probability what do you think the chances are of two actions leading to exactly the same and highest amount of happiness? Hugely low, even if the difference is tiny that still means there is one best course of action. Maximum happiness is what sentient creatures such as ourselves prefer, if two wishes conflict then the one that will cause the least harm should prevail. I have already established that sentient creatures desire what they prefer, that is an objective fact shown by people aiming for what they want every day.

Now you're being pretty damn dishonest.

I'm disappointed, up until now you've argued well without resorting to personal attacks or slurs, unlike several other posters on this thread.

I didn't ask you to prove that they desire what they prefer. I asked you to prove that maximum happiness is what is best. And I pointed out that desire and preferrence don't work as a basis for establishing truth. So going on about it being what is desired and/or preferred is irrelevant.

Sentient creatures want what they prefer. Sentient creatures prefer happiness. Therefore sentient creatures want to be happy.

OMFG. I said I didn't ask about that.

As we are sentient creatures, it therefore makes sense to aim for goals that maximise happiness, so as many sentient creatures will get what they want as possible. The only way this isn't the "best" option is if you ignore our sentient values and desires, which is quite frankly pointless as morality means nothing to a plant or a rock, as useless are trying to study video game design from the point of view of a cheese sandwich.

Claiming something 'makes sense' is not proof that it is true. And appealing to sentient values does not prove that it is true either. In fact appealing to VALUES is practically shooting yourself in the foot when you're trying to prove something is objectively true. Pointlessness has nothing to do with objective truth.

But if values are universally true of something, then it is relevant in saying whether something is objectively true. An alternate morality is only possible when you have different starting values to base that morality off, something which is impossible for humans and probably other sentient creatures too. From taking an initial set of values, one logical (and therefore universal) morality will emerge at the most efficient at producing those values. Just because morality can't be measured with a meter or device doesn't mean it isn't real, just as love between two people or the borders of a country can't be physically measured either but certainly exist.