During the course of human history, values have been created, not discovered.
The reason why it appears as if the way we think about things is “common sense” is that these values that were created have become so normalized and familiar, that we do not even realize that they are not part of the structure of the universe itself, but purely human creations.
For instance, one of the big human creations is “morality”. Humans are taught that if they adhere to a set of laws then their safety in life is assured. It is most unlikely that a bad thing could happen to them, so long as they abide for the rules.
Now, in fact, this idea has come about through trial and error, and there is some level of practical science to it: the less one takes a risk, and the more one abides by convention, the less likely it is also that one will come to harm.
But the belief in morality as a system of values takes us way beyond what could otherwise be just a practical science. The values become enshrined as transcendental, and “necessary{, when there is nothing about them that indicates that they should be so.
Ok. I go along with you with the last paragraph, that it could be just a figure of speech. But it borrows from the language of objectivity. — and this is what is currently under dispute here.
So, when I say something about practical benefit, I mean that there are certain things that one could do which reduce danger (keep one safe). For instance, it is bad to go hiking in the mountains without adequate clothing and protection. It is wrong not to prepare for winter rain and cold on the mountain face. And indeed, “it is probably better not to climb that large mountain at all, when you could stay at home and eat warm meals and not have anything to worry about.”
So, there are things that are “of practical benefit” to humans in general. And most people abide by them, must because they find them to be of practical benefit.
But to take the step and say that these things constitute an “objective morality” is a bridge too far.
It would be like saying, “mountain climbing is an artificial value. Staying at home is an objective value.”
At least that’s how it sounds to me.
Add a comment