Rob, I'd like you to watch the following video when you get a minute. It's an interesting video on its own merits, but I'd like you to keep in mind our debate about "Is morality real and objective?" in mind while you listen to the debate concerning "Is math real and objective?" There are parallels between the fictionalist view and moral skepticism.
Fictionalism postulates that math is practically useful, yet says that math does not make factual statements. Sound familiar? You postulate something very similar with your notion that the idea of wellbeing is something that is useful for you and I to achieve our subjective goals, but that morality itself is not an objective endeavor.
The point is, most people reject mathematical fictionalism. They think that mathematical statements do have truth value. But they can't fully make the case that numbers exist. I think the same phenomenon transpires when people say that moral statements can have no truth value.
Fictionalism postulates that math is practically useful, yet says that math does not make factual statements. Sound familiar? You postulate something very similar with your notion that the idea of wellbeing is something that is useful for you and I to achieve our subjective goals, but that morality itself is not an objective endeavor.
The point is, most people reject mathematical fictionalism. They think that mathematical statements do have truth value. But they can't fully make the case that numbers exist. I think the same phenomenon transpires when people say that moral statements can have no truth value.
