If you believe that some moral theories are better than others (and it wasn’t clear that you do, but I suspect it is so), why would you ever accept a personal theory that’s not good enough to be coerced on others?
I’m not saying you have to interfere, just that your moral theory should be good enough to specify when you can/should. There’s not a separate internal and external theory; any worthy theory is both.
If the point of a non-personal, universal or group-level, morality is to satisfy group level values, such as equality and justice, then the justification for coercion is that co ordination is necessary to achieve them, and voluntary co ordination is not sufficient.
If the point of personal morality is to achieve personal values, there is no justification for one person to impose it on another with different values.
Its not about how good theories are but what they are supposed to do.
If you believe that some moral theories are better than others (and it wasn’t clear that you do, but I suspect it is so), why would you ever accept a personal theory that’s not good enough to be coerced on others?
Because what do I care how someone lives their personal life? I care the moment they start telling me how to live mine.
I’m not saying you have to interfere, just that your moral theory should be good enough to specify when you can/should. There’s not a separate internal and external theory; any worthy theory is both.
If the point of a non-personal, universal or group-level, morality is to satisfy group level values, such as equality and justice, then the justification for coercion is that co ordination is necessary to achieve them, and voluntary co ordination is not sufficient.
If the point of personal morality is to achieve personal values, there is no justification for one person to impose it on another with different values.
Its not about how good theories are but what they are supposed to do.