Caledonian: How wil you recognise that the morals are objective, when you see them? How will I recognise them, when you have seen them? And can you give an example of a thusly verified moral-candidate.
Well, let’s examine the concept of cooperation, since many people here seem to feel that cooperation is a fundamental aspect of the concept of ‘morality’.
Abolish your conceptions of morality for a time. Set them aside.
Tigers don’t cooperate. They claim territories which they do not share, and if one tiger enters into the territory of another, the two will ritually fight. Normally the loser withdraws, but if it does not, they will fight to the death. Only during mating periods will potential mates be permitted in, and they depart after mating is completed.
Wolves cooperate. They live in packs and have elaborate social structures which are maintained by a complex set of principles, including ritual challenges. The wolves generally abide by the outcomes of such challenges, with the winner not harming the loser and the loser capitulating. Wolves that for whatever reason do not honor the strictures of their society are cast out—this rarely occurs.
Now, maintaining the suspension of your morality, consider the following questions:
Why are tigers so different from wolves? What causes tigers to act as they do? What causes wolves to act as they do? Are there any senses in which we can say that tigers are right to behave that way? Are there any senses in which we can say that wolves are right to behave that way? If there are in both cases, what sort of overarching system might be needed to recognize both ways of interacting with others to be viewed as correct?
You may find it useful to review the ecological niches of wolves and tigers.
Abolish your conceptions of morality for a time. Set them aside.
Tigers don’t cooperate. They claim territories which they do not share, and if one tiger enters into the territory of another, the two will ritually fight. Normally the loser withdraws, but if it does not, they will fight to the death. Only during mating periods will potential mates be permitted in, and they depart after mating is completed.
Wolves cooperate. They live in packs and have elaborate social structures which are maintained by a complex set of principles, including ritual challenges. The wolves generally abide by the outcomes of such challenges, with the winner not harming the loser and the loser capitulating. Wolves that for whatever reason do not honor the strictures of their society are cast out—this rarely occurs.
Now, maintaining the suspension of your morality, consider the following questions:
Why are tigers so different from wolves? What causes tigers to act as they do? What causes wolves to act as they do? Are there any senses in which we can say that tigers are right to behave that way? Are there any senses in which we can say that wolves are right to behave that way? If there are in both cases, what sort of overarching system might be needed to recognize both ways of interacting with others to be viewed as correct?
You may find it useful to review the ecological niches of wolves and tigers.