contractualist OP t1_j9db1ki wrote on February 21, 2023 at 2:07 AM

Reply to comment by rejectednocomments in What Morality is Not (and why it's not the Repugnant Conclusion, Utilitarianism, or Libertarianism) by contractualist

Thanks for the review!

I'll probably write more about my thoughts on value, but I do come in with the assumption that value isn't intrinsic but a creation by free, conscious beings. And if value isn't intrinsic but subjective, it can't be publicly examined and judged. There's no point of reference to say that one value is right due to X property and the other is wrong
due to Y property. These values might give our lives meaning, but are not reason based the way that morality is (which is a product of certain values).

If you think there is a better way to capture the dispute between realists and relativists, I'd appreciate any insight. My writing is only my perspective and the reason I share it is so I can get feedback like this.

I wouldn't say any controversy makes an issue personal, but only ones where there are reasonable enough arguments on both sides that choosing one or the other would be acceptable. I do think this is the case for the Trolley Problem so that its not a duty to pull the lever.

rejectednocomments t1_j9dh9nz wrote on February 21, 2023 at 2:55 AM

I don’t think you should be so quick to reject the possibility that value could be objective. But if you want to go with the assumption that value is subjective, you might want to look at how subjectivists about value have tried to incorporate values into their moral theories.

Some of the disagreement between relativists and non-relativists might be due to a failure to adequately distinguish morals from mores; that is, genuine moral principles from social custom and expectation.

I think it would be helpful if you clarified what falls within the moral sphere and what doesn’t. I worry that you’re position excludes things that should be part of morality, but it’s hard to say for sure at this point.

contractualist OP t1_j9er0xy wrote on February 21, 2023 at 11:41 AM

Thank you! I’ll look into those matters and will be more explicit with the principles I believe would arise from a reasonable agreement.