Ethical Objectivism Sumary Submit your one page double spaced summary here. This assignment requires you to write a one page double spaced summary essay based on the presentation you just attended. A summary is an essay the restates, in your own word, what you understood of the presentation. Each summary is worth 5% of your final grade.
Ethical objectivism is a normative ethical theory that posits the existence of objective moral truths. It argues that there are moral principles that hold true regardless of individual beliefs or cultural values. According to ethical objectivism, these moral truths are independent of human perception and exist as objective features of the world.
The presentation on ethical objectivism explored the main concepts and arguments surrounding this theory. It began by distinguishing between subjectivism and objectivism in ethics. While subjectivism holds that moral truths are relative and depend on individual perspectives, objectivism posits that there are moral truths that exist independently of human subjectivity.
One of the key arguments for ethical objectivism is the existence of moral disagreements among individuals and cultures. Objectivists argue that these disagreements can only be meaningful if there are objective moral truths against which conflicting views can be compared. For example, the disagreement over whether slavery is morally acceptable or not can only be truly debated if there is an objective moral truth regarding the rights and dignity of every individual.
Another important aspect of ethical objectivism is the distinction between moral facts and moral values. Objectivists maintain that moral facts are objective and verifiable, whereas moral values are subjective and depend on individual preferences. For instance, the fact that murder causes harm and violates the right to life can be objectively established, while the value placed on preventing harm or respecting human rights may vary from person to person.
Ethical objectivism also addresses the challenge of cultural relativism, which claims that morality is entirely culturally determined. Objectivists argue that while cultural values and practices may differ, there are universal moral principles that are valid across all cultures. They contend that cultural relativism fails to account for the existence of common moral intuitions and shared ethical principles found in various societies.
A key consideration in ethical objectivism is the source of objective moral truths. Traditionally, religious or naturalistic frameworks have been proposed to ground these truths. Religious objectivists believe that moral truths are derived from a divine authority, while naturalistic objectivists argue that moral truths can be deduced from empirical observations and reasoned analysis. The presentation did not delve into the specific justifications for objective moral truths, but it highlighted the essential role of objectivity in grounding ethical principles.
Critics of ethical objectivism raise various challenges to this theory. One common objection is the is-ought problem, which asserts that it is logically fallacious to derive moral statements from purely descriptive statements. This challenge questions the possibility of objectively establishing moral truths based solely on empirical observations. Additionally, cultural relativists argue that the existence of diverse moral values across cultures undermines the notion of objective moral truths that are universally applicable.
In conclusion, ethical objectivism asserts the existence of objective moral truths that are independent of individual beliefs and cultural values. It distinguishes between moral facts and values, and argues for the presence of universal moral principles. While it faces challenges such as the is-ought problem and cultural relativism, ethical objectivism provides a framework for understanding and evaluating morality based on objective, verifiable principles. The presentation shed light on the key arguments and considerations associated with this theory, highlighting its potential strengths and weaknesses.