(December 9, 2010 at 5:22 am)Micah Wrote: If morality cannot be subjective and there is an overall "true" morality, where does it come from? If the Big Bang created the Universe and everything since then has been random collisions of atoms, where does moral truth come from?
Firstly, one small correction. Like most Naturalists I don't at all believe the universe is "random", it's an algorithm (feedback loop) that operates under constraints (the laws of physics).
Secondly, to expand upon Moral Subjectivism VS Moral Nihilism I'll put it another way:
The only difference between moral subjectivism and moral nihilism is that the latter isn't afraid to call it opinion.
As for "where does it come from" I'm not sure that's a valid question... Morality is a standard of evaluation regarding shared values, not something in and of it's self. Is it possible to objectively determine which values are good and which are bad? I believe so. I've already responded with a condensed argument for Moral Realism, below is a slightly updated one:
1. All values exist as a relationship between desires and states of affairs and/or objects.
2. A good desire is that which fulfills the desires in question. A bad desire is that which thwarts the desires in question (common good).
3. Morality is a subset of value dealing with shared values (good for us).
4. Desires are the only objects of evaluation regarding moral value.
5. Therefore, that which is morally good is a desire that tends to fulfill the most and/or strongest desires from competing sets of desires (has the greatest positive value).
.
