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Absolutist Theory Of Morality

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Before we even begin to tackle this question it is imperative to highlight the fact that in this sense we assume that morality, as Kant suggests, is a priori synthetic; Having a different basis to common knowledge in things such as science which is always a priori analytic and a posterior synthetic. In this sense we can completely understand that Hume is right in asserting the fact that to derive an ought from an is, is impossible and a naturalistic fallacy. However, the question is immediately disproven if we follow the route of logical positivism. Logical positivism doesn’t disprove, but completely discredits philosophies that aren’t based upon scientific knowledge. In this sense, morality is far more than just an expression as it appears …show more content…

Reason cannot motivate action.
3. Therefore, moral judgements are not judgements of reason.
4. There are only two types of judgements of reason, relations of ideas and matters of fact.
5. Moral judgements are not relations of ideas.
6. Moral judgements are not matters of fact.
7. Therefore, moral judgements are not judgements of reason.”
On this basis it seems incredibly difficult to argue that morals are scientific. Another flaw in this absolutist approach is that it doesn’t allow for cultural diversity. Arguably, the upholstering of basic human rights is more important than cultural values. However, if we were to take the utilitarian view of the greatest good (pleasure) for the greatest number, surely to allow a tribe to practice their sacrificial ceremonies provides the greatest good, even if sacrificing a human is unethical in a western society. Once again, a scientific theory (utilitarianism) is undermining a philosophy that says we must base our views on science. Finally, if we were to base our ethics on science and uproot cultural diversity we would be avoiding the laws of social contract. If we take the Lockean theory that one must immerse themselves in the social contract by free will, we cannot enforce a set of absolute ethics on people who do not wish to partake in that ethical contract otherwise it is a violation of their rights and so unethical. The fundamental problem of logical positivism is the repeated contradiction it poses against

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Moral concepts “have their seat and origin completely a priori in reason, and indeed in the most ordinary human reason as much in the most highly speculative” (Grounding 411). This explains how moral concepts are founded and have their origin completely in a “priori in reason” or carefully founded in reason, and solely reason, with no prior experience being relied on to make the moral law. With this purity “of their origin lies their very worthiness to serve us as supreme practical principles” (Grounding 411). Essentially, the purity of the moral principles, being founded in complete reason, is the very worthiness that allows us to follow them as our moral principles. If we were to constrain scientific knowledge, this decision would not be made out of reason because of how illogical it is.

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