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Socrathustra t1_ivc19ou wrote

Reply to comment by [deleted] in Michael Shermer argues that science can determine many of our moral values. Morality is aimed at protecting certain human desires, like avoidance of harm (e.g. torture, slavery). Science helps us determine what these desires are and how to best achieve them. by Ma3Ke4Li3

How is this circular or at all like Shermer? I don't believe it can establish what is moral on its own, just that it can be a useful process if you otherwise establish that preferences are part of morality.

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[deleted] t1_ivckgkm wrote

[removed]

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Socrathustra t1_ivcmaks wrote

> On what grounds are you establishing that preferences are representative of morality? Why, on the grounds that our preferences are often moral!

Completely off-base and made-up. Please don't put words in my mouth.

I believe our preferences are part of the basis of morality for a variety of reasons which are beyond the scope of a discussion of the original post. I'm not going to get roped into a discussion of irrelevant minutiae. My suggestion was that if preferences are part of the basis of morality, the process of uncovering preferences is essential to morality. This is undoubtedly a true syllogism.

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