Morality

Recent tragic world events have pushed me to challenge my own perceptions of right and wrong. Is it possible to universally agree on moral principles? Are my intuitions about morality reliable?

For me, the core of morality lies in the question of objectivity: do moral truths exist independently of human perception and judgement?  

If all humans were wiped off the face of the earth today, certain truths would remain unchanged. The Earth would continue its orbital trajectory around the sun-a truth grounded in the laws of physics independent of the intervention of human psychology. Can the same be said for morality?

Diving into the idea of objective morality really gets you thinking about the possibility of universal moral truths. It's fascinating how, across cultures and societies, we tend to agree on some pretty fundamental moral intuitions. Condemning heinous violence appears to be a near-universal moral position, suggesting the possible existence of objective moral principles that transcend individual perspective. 

Epistimologically, I remain skeptical about the nature of morality and its foundations. I accept there are inherent constraints in our human cognition and limitations of our sensory perceptions to grasp the true objective nature of the world. 

From a theological perspective, God, the concept of a divine being, brings forth the idea of an ultimate source of moral authority. Religious people argue that objective morality can only be grounded in the nature of God and 'his' divine commands, suggesting moral truths are not subjective but rather rooted in the nature of God himself -this is known as divine command theory. 

As someone who approaches most things with skepticism, I must question the necessity of a supernatural deity for objective moral truths to exist. 

The Euthyphro dilemma challenges the notion of a necessary divine source for morality: Are actions right because God commands them, or does God command actions because they are right? 

 This dilemma underscores the tension between divine command theory and another philosophical position in metaethics, which asserts the existence of objective moral truths without the divine - moral realism. If objective morality is indeed true, could it exist independently of a divine source?  

On the other side of the spectrum,  we have moral relativism - the idea that right and wrong depend on the culture or individual. I understand the appeal to this worldview: it promotes respect for different cultures and their beliefs, acknowledging there's no one-size-fits-all morality. In many ways, it's admirable, fostering tolerance and understanding in our diverse world, particularly in a country as diverse as Australia is.

On a personal level I find it difficult to shake off this nagging feeling about moral relativism. If everything is relative, does that mean there's no real right or wrong? Then whats the point of trying to be good if its all just a matter of opinion? It feels like society would be left without a firm basis for evaluating moral claims or resolving conflicts. Neuroscientist and philosopher Sam Harris argues moral relativism is fundamentally flawed and leads to moral confusion and ethical stagnation. He contends that objective moral truths can be discerend through reason and empirical observation, without the need for a God.

I guess this is where my leaning towards objective morality comes in. Perhaps I find comfort in the idea of universal standards of right and wrong, even if we may never fully understand them. It feels like having a moral compass to guide us through life's complexitites. 

I concede this view does bring forth its own set of problems. Who gets to decide what's objectively right or wrong? Is there some cosmic rule book we're supposed to follow? What if we get it wrong? History is replete with instances where actions deemed 'moral' led to atrocities-consider any form of ideological extremism done in the name of rightousness. 

Yet, the pursuit of moral inquiry must persist, driven by our desire to navigate the complexities of a modern world. The quest for understanding moralilty seems elusive, though I believe through introspection, open dialogue, and a willingness to confront the messy parts of human nature, we can inch closer to comprehending the moral fabric that binds us all together.