Moral realism

Moral realism is a position in meta-ethics that asserts the existence of moral facts that are objective and independent of human opinions, beliefs, or feelings. According to moral realists, statements such as "Stealing is wrong" are propositions that can be true or false in a manner that is analogous to factual statements like "Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius." This view contrasts with moral relativism, which suggests that moral truths are relative to cultural, individual, or situational contexts, and moral nihilism, which denies the existence of any moral truths whatsoever.

Overview

Moral realism can be divided into several subtypes, including ethical naturalism, ethical non-naturalism, and ethical supernaturalism. Ethical naturalists believe that moral truths are based on natural properties and can be understood through empirical investigation similar to scientific facts. Ethical non-naturalists hold that moral truths exist but are not based on natural properties and cannot be observed directly. Ethical supernaturalists attribute moral truths to supernatural sources, such as divine commands.

Arguments for Moral Realism

Supporters of moral realism often argue from the premise of moral experience. They claim that our intuitive moral experiences—such as feelings of obligation or moral approval/disapproval—are best explained by the existence of objective moral truths. Another argument is the argument from disagreement, which observes that genuine moral disagreements exist and are best explained by the existence of objective moral facts that parties are attempting to discern.

Criticisms of Moral Realism

Critics of moral realism, such as proponents of moral anti-realism, argue that moral realism fails to provide a satisfactory explanation for how humans have access to moral facts. They also challenge the existence of a moral reality that is independent of human cognition and cultural contexts. Furthermore, the argument from queerness, introduced by philosopher J.L. Mackie, suggests that if there were objective moral properties, they would be of a very strange and inexplicable sort, unlike anything else in the universe.

Philosophical Implications

The debate between moral realism and its alternatives has significant implications for other areas of philosophy, including epistemology, philosophy of language, and philosophy of mind. It also impacts practical disciplines such as ethics and political philosophy, influencing discussions on the nature of law, justice, and human rights.

See Also

• Ethics
• Meta-ethics
• Moral relativism
• Moral nihilism
• Moral anti-realism