(April 9, 2019 at 8:02 am)robvalue Wrote:(April 9, 2019 at 7:54 am)Acrobat Wrote: Who gets to say that 1+1 =2?
The person using an abstract mathematical system. It’s true because we say it’s true. That doesn’t mean it necessarily correlates to reality in any meaningful way; it doesn’t have to. Be careful not to conflate mathematics with the applications of mathematics.
Quote:Who gets to say that torturing innocent babies just for fun is wrong?
No one. They can say it’s wrong in their opinion, or according to some set of moral rules they draw up. Again, "wrong" is a highly subjective term.
Yes, torturing babies for fun is wrong, in my opinion. Make of that what you will.
Quote:Who gets to say that anything is true?
No one gets to say anything about reality is true, only that they find certain evidence convincing of a hypothesis, and that they would expect people to agree. Anyone can say that statements are true about abstract systems they are in control of, such as 1+1=2. It’s true because I say it’s true, with respect to this particular abstract system. If it wasn’t true, it wouldn’t be my system.
Okay, so in your view there's no such thing as objective truth, not just when it comes to morality, or values, or meaning, but in regards to any truth.
