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DOES GOD EXIST?DOES GOD EXIST?

THE MORAL ARGUMENTTHE MORAL ARGUMENT Objective realitiesObjective realities

Objective (definition)Objective (definition) expressing or dealing with facts or conditions as perceived expressing or dealing with facts or conditions as perceived

without distortion by personal feelings, prejudices, or without distortion by personal feelings, prejudices, or interpretations, and perceptible by all observersinterpretations, and perceptible by all observers

Subjective realitiesSubjective realitiesSubjective (definition)Subjective (definition)

peculiar to a particular individual, modified or affected by peculiar to a particular individual, modified or affected by personal views, experience, or backgroundpersonal views, experience, or background

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AXIOLOGICALAXIOLOGICAL

THE STUDY OF MORALITY AND THE STUDY OF MORALITY AND VALUES IS CALLED AXIOLOGYVALUES IS CALLED AXIOLOGY.. AXIOS IS GREEK FOR WORTH OR AXIOS IS GREEK FOR WORTH OR

VALUE.VALUE.

The Moral or Axiological argument tries to The Moral or Axiological argument tries to show that moral values must be objective show that moral values must be objective and universal to make sense.and universal to make sense.

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RELATIVISMRELATIVISMThe most widely held moral view in our The most widely held moral view in our

culture is called Relativism.culture is called Relativism.Relativism holds that societies and/or

individuals decide what is right and wrong. There is no objective moral truths, just behaviors created by people for people and they are subject to change.

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3 FORMS OF RELATIVISM3 FORMS OF RELATIVISM

CULTURAL RELATIVISMCULTURAL RELATIVISM

CONVENTIONALISMCONVENTIONALISM

ETHICAL SUBJECTIVISMETHICAL SUBJECTIVISM

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CULTURAL RELATIVISMCULTURAL RELATIVISM

Cultural relativism is based on the Cultural relativism is based on the observation that different cultures seem to observation that different cultures seem to have different values.have different values. Example: Mexico, declares abortion to wrong Example: Mexico, declares abortion to wrong

and have passed laws to outlaw it, while the and have passed laws to outlaw it, while the USA permit abortions and call it women's USA permit abortions and call it women's rights, and China actually requires abortion in rights, and China actually requires abortion in some cases.some cases.

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PROBLEMS WITH THIS PROBLEMS WITH THIS VIEW.VIEW.

Observing how cultures behave is just that, Observing how cultures behave is just that, an observation and nothing more.an observation and nothing more. Morals are not a description of the way things Morals are not a description of the way things

are, they are a prescription of the way things are, they are a prescription of the way things ought to be. Just because something is a certain ought to be. Just because something is a certain way does not mean it ought to be that way.way does not mean it ought to be that way.

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It also presupposes that different answers It also presupposes that different answers to a given question means that there is no to a given question means that there is no right answer.right answer.

Just because Mexico, the USA, and China, Just because Mexico, the USA, and China, disagree on the issue of abortion does not disagree on the issue of abortion does not mean there is no right or wrong answer to mean there is no right or wrong answer to this question.this question.

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A Cultural relativist will claim that there A Cultural relativist will claim that there view on morality is the right view, but in view on morality is the right view, but in claiming that, they are disproving there claiming that, they are disproving there own view. By claiming that relativism own view. By claiming that relativism (which claims there are no absolutes) is (which claims there are no absolutes) is correct then they are being absolute.correct then they are being absolute.

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CONVENTIONALISMCONVENTIONALISM

The view that each society decides what is The view that each society decides what is right and wrong is called conventionalism.right and wrong is called conventionalism. In contrast to cultural relativism, which says In contrast to cultural relativism, which says

there is no right and wrong, conventionalism there is no right and wrong, conventionalism says there is a right and wrong, but it varies says there is a right and wrong, but it varies from society to society. Majority rules and from society to society. Majority rules and morality becomes simply what is legal. morality becomes simply what is legal.

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WANTEDWANTEDFOR CRIMINALLY IMMORAL ACTSFOR CRIMINALLY IMMORAL ACTS

ABE LINCOLN

MAHATMA GHANDI

MOTHER TERESA

JESUSMARTIN LUTHER KING

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ETHICAL SUBJECTIVISMETHICAL SUBJECTIVISM

This form of relativism is the most wide This form of relativism is the most wide spread.spread. In this view, individuals decide what is right In this view, individuals decide what is right

and wrong for themselves.and wrong for themselves. Morality is nothing more than personal Morality is nothing more than personal

preference and opinion.preference and opinion.“what is true for you is true for you, and what is true

for me is true for me”. Or “who are you to judge”.

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You can never have a conversation about You can never have a conversation about morality with someone who believes like morality with someone who believes like this. You can never say anything is right or this. You can never say anything is right or wrong. wrong.

The best one could say is:The best one could say is: ““I choose not to do that because it is wrong for I choose not to do that because it is wrong for

me”. me”.

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IS ALL TRUTH RELATIVE?IS ALL TRUTH RELATIVE?

THE FATAL FLAW IN THIS VIEW IS IT THE FATAL FLAW IN THIS VIEW IS IT IS SELF REFUTING.IS SELF REFUTING.

IF THE ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION IF THE ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION IS YES (AS THE RELATIVIST CLAIMS) IS YES (AS THE RELATIVIST CLAIMS) THEN WHAT ARE WE TO DO WITH THEN WHAT ARE WE TO DO WITH THAT STATEMENT ITSELF, SINCE IT THAT STATEMENT ITSELF, SINCE IT WOULD BE UNIVERSALLY TRUE?WOULD BE UNIVERSALLY TRUE?

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““IS TORTURING BABIES FOR FUN IS TORTURING BABIES FOR FUN WRONG?”WRONG?”

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WHAT MORAL SYSTEM WHAT MORAL SYSTEM IS RIGHTIS RIGHT

One way to gauge a moral system is to look One way to gauge a moral system is to look at the kind of heroes the system produces.at the kind of heroes the system produces. Take the objective moral stance of the Take the objective moral stance of the

Christianity view. The heroes are many.Christianity view. The heroes are many.Jesus ChristJesus ChristPaulPaulThe Reformers (that died at the stake)The Reformers (that died at the stake)The PuritansThe Puritans

The list could go on and on, of people that have The list could go on and on, of people that have given there all for the sake of others and for the given there all for the sake of others and for the sake of standing for what is right.sake of standing for what is right.

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What about ethical subjectivism? What What about ethical subjectivism? What kind of heroes best exemplifies there ideas?kind of heroes best exemplifies there ideas?

Charles Manson Ted Bundy

Albert Fish Ed Gein

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OBJECTIVE MORALITYOBJECTIVE MORALITY

Morals are not opinion. They are not Morals are not opinion. They are not personal, private decisions, and they are not personal, private decisions, and they are not descriptions of behavior. They are descriptions of behavior. They are prescriptions for behavior and motive that prescriptions for behavior and motive that have the force of a command. They contain have the force of a command. They contain a since of obligation and oughtness that is a since of obligation and oughtness that is universal, authoritative, and outweighs universal, authoritative, and outweighs considerations of culture, time, and place.considerations of culture, time, and place.

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SCIENCE??SCIENCE??

We cannot understand morals from science. We cannot understand morals from science.

Science will not tell us what ought to happen, Science will not tell us what ought to happen, only what will probably happen under certain only what will probably happen under certain circumstances.circumstances.

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REASON??REASON??

Morality cannot be derived from reason Morality cannot be derived from reason either.either.

Reason helps us recognize contradictions, but Reason helps us recognize contradictions, but not the morality of the propositions.not the morality of the propositions.Example: someone tells you, “I always lie”, you Example: someone tells you, “I always lie”, you

would reason that this is a paradoxical statement. If it would reason that this is a paradoxical statement. If it were true, then it is false, and if it is false, it is true. were true, then it is false, and if it is false, it is true. But reason does not tell us anything about whether But reason does not tell us anything about whether lying is right or wrong.lying is right or wrong.

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INTUITION??INTUITION??We know morality thru intuition.We know morality thru intuition.

(this intuition does not mean some vague (this intuition does not mean some vague suspicion, premonition, or nagging feeling. suspicion, premonition, or nagging feeling. Moral intuition is a genuine form of Moral intuition is a genuine form of knowledge.)knowledge.)No investigation of facts or reasoning is required. No investigation of facts or reasoning is required.

This is what is demonstrated in the example of This is what is demonstrated in the example of “torturing babies for fun is wrong”.“torturing babies for fun is wrong”.

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Demonstrations.Demonstrations.There are several ways to show that even There are several ways to show that even

people who claim to believe in relativism, people who claim to believe in relativism, actually believe in objective morality.actually believe in objective morality.

We have shown one way is with clear cut We have shown one way is with clear cut examples like the baby example.examples like the baby example. Often conversations will present opportunities Often conversations will present opportunities

to make this point in a much more personal to make this point in a much more personal way.way.

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Another demonstration would be to show Another demonstration would be to show that a relativist expects to be treated with that a relativist expects to be treated with respect and dignity. respect and dignity. You may ask whether there is any reason they You may ask whether there is any reason they

should not verbally abuse, demean, and ridicule should not verbally abuse, demean, and ridicule the relativist. The relativist would have to take the relativist. The relativist would have to take the abuse or give no response to remain the abuse or give no response to remain consistent. Yet the relativist will protest if they consistent. Yet the relativist will protest if they receive this kind of treatment, because there receive this kind of treatment, because there moral intuition cries out that it is wrong to moral intuition cries out that it is wrong to treat people this way.treat people this way.

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A 3A 3rdrd way of exposing objectivism in a way of exposing objectivism in a relativist is to discover their passion and relativist is to discover their passion and relativize it.relativize it. Lets say your friend was a animal rights Lets say your friend was a animal rights

activist, you might tell them that you were activist, you might tell them that you were trying to find a new shampoo and you just trying to find a new shampoo and you just tested out a couple of different kinds by tested out a couple of different kinds by rubbing the shampoo in their dogs eyes to see if rubbing the shampoo in their dogs eyes to see if there was any adverse reactions. The relativist there was any adverse reactions. The relativist will object. By objecting he has demonstrated will object. By objecting he has demonstrated that moral laws are not personal opinions.that moral laws are not personal opinions.

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WHERE DOES MORALITY WHERE DOES MORALITY COME FROM?COME FROM?

Where do morals come from?Where do morals come from?

Why should we obey them?Why should we obey them?

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CHARACTERISTICS OF CHARACTERISTICS OF MORALITY.MORALITY.

MORALITY CONSISTS OF MORALITY CONSISTS OF PRESCRIPTIONS FOR BEHAVIOUR PRESCRIPTIONS FOR BEHAVIOUR AND MOTIVES, NOT DESCRITIONS OF AND MOTIVES, NOT DESCRITIONS OF THE WORLD.THE WORLD.

MORALITY CONSISTES OF MORALITY CONSISTES OF COMMANDS, NOT SUGGESTIONS.COMMANDS, NOT SUGGESTIONS. MORALITY SAYS, “DO THIS” AND MORALITY SAYS, “DO THIS” AND

“DON’T DO THAT,” NOT “IT WOULD BE “DON’T DO THAT,” NOT “IT WOULD BE NICE IF YOU DID THIS OR REFRAINED NICE IF YOU DID THIS OR REFRAINED FROM DOING THAT.”FROM DOING THAT.”

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MORALITY IS UNIVERSAL IN SCOPE. MORALITY IS UNIVERSAL IN SCOPE. MORALITY APPLIES TO ALL PEOPLE MORALITY APPLIES TO ALL PEOPLE IN ALL PLACES AT ALL TIMES.IN ALL PLACES AT ALL TIMES.

MORALITY IS OBJECTIVE. RIGHT AND WRONG EXIST OUTSIDE OF, AND REGARDLESS OF, OUR BELIEFS.

MORALITY IS AUTHORITATIVE. WE MORALITY IS AUTHORITATIVE. WE ARE OBLIGED TO OBEY ITS ARE OBLIGED TO OBEY ITS COMMANDS.COMMANDS.

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GUILTGUILT

Another indicator of where morals come Another indicator of where morals come from is found in what happens when we from is found in what happens when we break the moral law. We feel guilty.break the moral law. We feel guilty. Sometimes we feel guilty to someone that we Sometimes we feel guilty to someone that we

have done something wrong to, but sometimes have done something wrong to, but sometimes the object of our guilt is not so obvious, like the object of our guilt is not so obvious, like when we feel guilt for our thoughts. To whom when we feel guilt for our thoughts. To whom do we feel guilty then? do we feel guilty then?

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Moral relativism turns out not to be a Moral relativism turns out not to be a moral system at all but merely a set of moral system at all but merely a set of opinions. These opinions carry no sense of opinions. These opinions carry no sense of authority and could change at anytime. It authority and could change at anytime. It seems clear that though many people give seems clear that though many people give lip service to this philosophy, no one lives it.lip service to this philosophy, no one lives it.

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CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION

Objectivism is the only coherent view of Objectivism is the only coherent view of morality. Only objectivism makes sense of morality. Only objectivism makes sense of our experience, of our perception of society our experience, of our perception of society and laws, our intuition and guilt. It is the and laws, our intuition and guilt. It is the only view of morality that can be lived only view of morality that can be lived consistently. And it points very strongly consistently. And it points very strongly toward the existence of a transcendent, toward the existence of a transcendent, powerful, personal God.powerful, personal God.