Official Website for Amitabha Palmer
Introduction and ContextSo far it looks like if we’re moral realists (i.e., we believe there are objective moral facts) we are in deep doo-doo. In Why Be Moral, Glaucon and Adeimantus compellingly argue that it’s better to appear moral than to actually be moral. The Euthyphro dilemma shows that appealing to God can’t, on its […]
Read More The Moral Problem: Michael SmithLibertarianism: IntroI’ve been wanting to write a post on libertarianism for a while and since I have a ton of things I’m supposed to be doing right now, I thought now would be an excellent time. When I was philosophically naive I found libertarianism quite compelling. I think this is common for most youth–especially young […]
Read More Libertarianism and Moral Obligation to OthersThe Dualism of Practical Reason from “Some Fundamental Ethical Controversies” by Sidgwick IntroductionSometimes we are faced with decisions in which we must choose between our own good and the good of others. Of course, there are happy situations where the two converge, but the difficult moral situations are those in which the two interests do not […]
Read More The Dualism of Practical Reason: SidgwickMill’s Utilitarianism, Chapter IV: Of What Sort of Proof the Principle of Utility is Susceptible Note: For criticisms of Mill’s Proof see my later posts “Sidgwick’s Criticisms of Mill’s Proof” and “Moore’s Criticisms of Mill’s Proof” Favorite Quote: “…[Virtue] may be felt a good in itself, and desired as such with as great intensity as any other […]
Read More Mill’s Utilitarianism Part 3: Proof of the Principle of UtilitarianismYo check it. Weez about to learn about why (Mill thinks) we should be compelled to adopt and adhere to utilitarianism as the ultimate moral standard. That is, why does a utilitarian ethic have binding force? Overview and RecapOk, so…like…’member utilitarianism? It’s the idear that the moral goodness of an action is proportional to the […]
Read More Mill’s Utilitarianism Part 2: Mill’s Argument for the Ultimate Sanction (What Can Compel Us to Consider General Happiness when We Act? )Other Mackie ArticlesMackie on Subjectivity vs ObjectivityMackie Intro and Second vs First Order Ethics OverviewDo objective moral values or principles exist? Or are we dancer? When someone says, “it’s wrong to do x” or “you ought not to do x” it seems as though they are referring to something objective about or in the act. That is, we […]
Read More The Arguments from Queerness and Relativity (Mackie Part 2)OverviewIn part 1 we looked at how Boyd draws an analogy between scientific realism and moral realism. The first parallel is that there is a progressively recursive relationship between theory and experience. The second is that there is a progressively recursive relationship between theory and method. Check out part 1 if you’d like further elaboration…I’ve […]
Read More Want to Discover Moral Truth? Part 2 "How to Be a Moral Realist" by R. BoydMackie on Objectivity/SubjectivityMackie’s Arguments from Relativity and Queerness Notes and Thoughts on J. L. Mackie’s Ethics: Inventing Right and Wrong, Part 1IntroMackie represents the position in meta-ethics known a moral skepticism. As you may have guessed, his position is typified by a strong belief in a god and objective moral values. Jk. lol. Actually, moral skepticism […]
Read More Objective Moral Values Don’t Exist: Mackie Part 1The Case for EmotivismRecapIn part 1 we looked at Ayer’s arguments against the idea that any value assertion (e.g. “x is good/right/bad”) by subjectivism, utilitarianism, or absolutism is not reducible to any testable claim, and is therefore meaningless, except as expressions of emotions of approval or disapproval. So, for example, if I say “premarital sex is baaaaaaaaaaaad” […]
Read More Hurrah/Boo Theory of Ethics: A. J. Ayer Part 2Notes and Thoughts on H. L. A. Hart’s Grudge Informers and the Rule of LawOverviewWithin philosophy of law, the traditional main positions are what’s know as natural law and legal positivism. Simply put, natural law is the idea that there is some sort of relationship between the law and morality (usually, law arises out of […]
Read More Is it Ever OK to Break the Law?
Wrestling with Philosophy 