Moral Realism

Definition

Moral realism is the philosophical view that there are objective moral facts and truths that exist independently of individual beliefs or cultural perspectives. This perspective asserts that moral statements can be true or false, based on how they correspond to these objective moral facts, which provides a foundation for discussing moral obligations and ethical behavior beyond personal or societal opinions.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Moral realism posits that ethical claims can be objectively true, meaning they are not merely subjective opinions but can be validated through reasoned arguments.
2. This perspective often contrasts with moral anti-realism, which denies the existence of objective moral values and suggests that moral beliefs are influenced by social or personal contexts.
3. Moral realists argue that the existence of widely shared moral intuitions across cultures supports the idea of objective moral truths.
4. Philosophers such as Plato, Immanuel Kant, and more recently, Derek Parfit have contributed to the discourse on moral realism by advocating for the existence of objective moral standards.
5. Moral realism plays a significant role in debates about moral responsibility, as it implies that individuals can be held accountable for their actions based on objective moral norms.

Review Questions

• How does moral realism challenge subjective interpretations of morality?
  • Moral realism challenges subjective interpretations of morality by asserting that there are objective moral truths that exist independently of personal beliefs or cultural norms. This means that moral claims can be evaluated as true or false based on their correspondence to these objective standards. In contrast to subjective interpretations, which hold that morality is shaped by individual or societal perspectives, moral realism maintains that certain ethical principles apply universally.
• Discuss the implications of moral realism for understanding ethical disagreements between cultures.
  • The implications of moral realism for understanding ethical disagreements between cultures are significant. If objective moral truths exist, then disagreements about ethical practices may reflect a misunderstanding or misapplication of these truths rather than an absence of universal principles. Moral realism suggests that some cultural practices could be objectively wrong regardless of local beliefs. This raises questions about cultural relativism and whether certain actions can be critiqued from a standpoint of objective morality.
• Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of moral realism in the context of contemporary ethical debates.
  • Evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of moral realism in contemporary ethical debates reveals both its persuasive power and its challenges. One strength is its ability to provide a solid foundation for moral accountability, suggesting that individuals are bound by universal ethical standards. However, critics argue that establishing these objective truths is problematic due to differing moral intuitions across cultures. Additionally, the challenge lies in articulating how we come to know these moral facts without falling into skepticism or relativism. Ultimately, while moral realism offers a compelling framework for understanding morality, it faces significant philosophical hurdles regarding justification and application in a diverse world.

Related terms

Moral Anti-Realism: The view that there are no objective moral facts or truths, asserting that moral statements are not objectively true or false but rather reflect individual or cultural attitudes.

Meta-Ethics: The branch of ethics that examines the nature, status, and foundations of moral values and judgments, focusing on what it means to say something is morally right or wrong.

Normative Ethics: The study of ethical theories that provide frameworks for determining what actions are morally right or wrong, and what moral principles should guide behavior.