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Understanding Subjectivism in Ethics: Sentiment vs. Fact in Moral Reasoning

Explore the concept of subjectivism in ethics, where beliefs about morality are based on desires rather than objective truths. Understand the debates between sentiment and fact, moral conflicts, and the implications of simple subjectivism and emotivism. Delve into moral reasoning involving freedom, justice, and equality for GLBT individuals, challenging traditional views on homosexuality. Discover the complexities of providing reasons to support value claims in modern society.

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Understanding Subjectivism in Ethics: Sentiment vs. Fact in Moral Reasoning

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  1. Subjectivism Ethics in the domain of desire

  2. The subjectivist account of morality • Our beliefs about the physical universe and other objective phenomena are empirically verifiable. • Our beliefs about what is good and bad, moral and immoral, reflect our desires, our concerns. They describe how we feel or what we want, not how things are. • Sentiment versus fact

  3. Moral Conflict Michele Bachman Matt Foreman Advancing the cause of freedom, justice and equality for GLBT people

  4. Simple subjectivism • X is good = I approve of x. X is bad = I disapprove of x Denies that moral disagreement occurs. Implies that no one can have a false moral belief (or a true one). • Emotivism: Moral conflicts do not reflect disagreement about matters of fact, they are conflicts about desires. Michele wants gay people to stop being gay, and Matt wants equal rights for LGBT people.

  5. Moral Reasoning • What is the connection between fact and sentiment? • What are desires for? • What factual claims do Michele and Matt disagree about? • Proving a test unfair. • What is it to provide reasons to support a value claim? Freedom of religion and freedom of the press are values every modern society should protect.

  6. The case of homosexuality • To say that homosexuals should not act on their desires is to condemn them to frustrating lives. (Rachels) • Opposition to gay rights: A danger to society? • Unnatural? • Statistically rare? • Non-procreative? • Wrong? Contrary to family values? Condemned by the Bible? Moral reasoning is about weighing reasons and basing moral beliefs on those reasons- it isn’t about following our feelings.

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