I pretty much agree. But I have one quibble that I think is worth mentioning. Someone else could just say, “No, that’s not what morality is. True morality is...”.
Example case:
True morality is following God’s will? Basically everyone who says this believes “God wants what’s best for us, even when we don’t understand it.” Their understanding of God’s will and their intuitive idea of what’s best for people rarely conflict though. But here’s an extreme example of when it could: Let’s say someone strongly believes (even in belief) in God, and for some reason thinks that God wants him to sacrifice his child. This action would go against his (unrecognized) terminal value of goodness, but he could still do it, subconsciously satisfying his (unrecognized) terminal value of personal happiness. He takes comfort in his belief in God and heaven. He takes comfort in his community. To not sacrifice the child would be to deny God and lose that comfort. These thoughts obviously don’t happen on a conscious level, but they could be intuitions?
Idk, feel free to throw more “true morality is...” scenarios at me...
Their understanding of God’s will and their intuitive idea of what’s best for people rarely conflict though.
What if it does conflict? Does that then change what morality is?
And to play devils advocate, suppose the person says, “I don’t care what you say, true morality is following God’s will no matter what the effect is on goodness or happiness.” Hint: they’re not wrong.
I hope I’m not being annoying. I could just make my point if you want.
But it seems like morality is just a word people use to describe how they think they should act! People think they should act in all sorts of ways, but it seems to me like they’re subconsciously acting to achieve happiness and/or goodness.
As for your quote… such a person would be very rare, because almost anyone who defines morality as God’s will believes that God’s will is good for humanity, even if she doesn’t understand why. This belief, and acting in accordance with it, brings her happiness in the form of security. I don’t think anyone says to herself “God has an evil will, but I will serve him anyway.” Do you?
But it seems like morality is just a word people use to describe how they think they should act!
It often is. My point is that morality is just a word, and that it unfortunately doesn’t have a well agreed upon meaning. And so someone could always just say “but I define it this way”.
And so to ask what morality is is really just asking how you define it. On the other hand, asking what someone’s altruism or preference ratios are is a concrete question.
You seem to be making the point that in practice, peoples definitions of morality usually can be traced back to happiness or goodness, even if they don’t know or admit it. I sense that you’re right.
Do you?
I doubt that there are many people who think that God has an evil will. But I could imagine that there are people who think that “even if I knew that God’s will was evil, following it would still be the right thing to do.”
I doubt that there are many people who think that God has an evil will. But I could imagine that there are people who think that “even if I knew that God’s will was evil, following it would still be the right thing to do.”
Sure. But any definition of “right” that gives that result is more or less baked into in the definition of “God’s will” (e.g. “God’s will is, by definition, right!”), and it’s not the sort of “right” I care about.
And so to ask what morality is is really just asking how you define it.
Yay, I got your point. Morality is definitely a more ambiguous term. You’ve helped me realize I shouldn’t use it synonymously with goodness.
You seem to be making the point that in practice, peoples definitions of morality usually can be traced back to happiness or goodness, even if they don’t know or admit it.
Yes, my point exactly.
But I could imagine that there are people who think that “even if I knew that God’s will was evil, following it would still be the right thing to do.”
I am trying really hard to imagine these people, and I can’t do it. Even if God’s will includes “justice” and killing anyone who doesn’t believe, even if it’s a baby whose only defect is “original sin,” people will still say that this “just” will of God’s is moral and right.
Example case:
True morality is following God’s will? Basically everyone who says this believes “God wants what’s best for us, even when we don’t understand it.” Their understanding of God’s will and their intuitive idea of what’s best for people rarely conflict though. But here’s an extreme example of when it could: Let’s say someone strongly believes (even in belief) in God, and for some reason thinks that God wants him to sacrifice his child. This action would go against his (unrecognized) terminal value of goodness, but he could still do it, subconsciously satisfying his (unrecognized) terminal value of personal happiness. He takes comfort in his belief in God and heaven. He takes comfort in his community. To not sacrifice the child would be to deny God and lose that comfort. These thoughts obviously don’t happen on a conscious level, but they could be intuitions?
Idk, feel free to throw more “true morality is...” scenarios at me...
What if it does conflict? Does that then change what morality is?
And to play devils advocate, suppose the person says, “I don’t care what you say, true morality is following God’s will no matter what the effect is on goodness or happiness.” Hint: they’re not wrong.
I hope I’m not being annoying. I could just make my point if you want.
But it seems like morality is just a word people use to describe how they think they should act! People think they should act in all sorts of ways, but it seems to me like they’re subconsciously acting to achieve happiness and/or goodness.
As for your quote… such a person would be very rare, because almost anyone who defines morality as God’s will believes that God’s will is good for humanity, even if she doesn’t understand why. This belief, and acting in accordance with it, brings her happiness in the form of security. I don’t think anyone says to herself “God has an evil will, but I will serve him anyway.” Do you?
It often is. My point is that morality is just a word, and that it unfortunately doesn’t have a well agreed upon meaning. And so someone could always just say “but I define it this way”.
And so to ask what morality is is really just asking how you define it. On the other hand, asking what someone’s altruism or preference ratios are is a concrete question.
You seem to be making the point that in practice, peoples definitions of morality usually can be traced back to happiness or goodness, even if they don’t know or admit it. I sense that you’re right.
I doubt that there are many people who think that God has an evil will. But I could imagine that there are people who think that “even if I knew that God’s will was evil, following it would still be the right thing to do.”
Sure. But any definition of “right” that gives that result is more or less baked into in the definition of “God’s will” (e.g. “God’s will is, by definition, right!”), and it’s not the sort of “right” I care about.
I think that’s what it often comes down to.
Yay, I got your point. Morality is definitely a more ambiguous term. You’ve helped me realize I shouldn’t use it synonymously with goodness.
Yes, my point exactly.
I am trying really hard to imagine these people, and I can’t do it. Even if God’s will includes “justice” and killing anyone who doesn’t believe, even if it’s a baby whose only defect is “original sin,” people will still say that this “just” will of God’s is moral and right.
Hmm. Well you know a ton more about this than me so I believe you.