joe, my own moral preferences are the ones I like. The ones other people hold that diverge from mine, I dislike. I recognize that there is no sense in which I can claim that mine are true and theirs are not, as they can make the same exact claim without any way to settle it. It is similar to my preferences in movies or music. As an emotivist I believe the word “good” just indicates subjective approval, “evil” or “bad” the opposite. I don’t think society will adopt my views and haven’t given much thought to what would happen in that hypothetical. My behavior has not really changed much, but I am also a product of my surroundings, which would not be the same in that hypothetical. Perhaps “It is best not to speak of atheism, lest the servants steal the silverware”, but I don’t think they will start stealing (marginally more) conditioned on my beliefs, so I have no reason not to hold them.
joe, my own moral preferences are the ones I like. The ones other people hold that diverge from mine, I dislike. I recognize that there is no sense in which I can claim that mine are true and theirs are not, as they can make the same exact claim without any way to settle it. It is similar to my preferences in movies or music. As an emotivist I believe the word “good” just indicates subjective approval, “evil” or “bad” the opposite. I don’t think society will adopt my views and haven’t given much thought to what would happen in that hypothetical. My behavior has not really changed much, but I am also a product of my surroundings, which would not be the same in that hypothetical. Perhaps “It is best not to speak of atheism, lest the servants steal the silverware”, but I don’t think they will start stealing (marginally more) conditioned on my beliefs, so I have no reason not to hold them.