Moral Oughts

[downbeatplumb]

This question is primarily reserved for Atheists who subscribe to Moral Realism.

You drop your wallet, I’m tempted to keep it/steal it to buy myself an Xbox.

A moral realist, at least in regards to the scenario above would agree, that stealing is wrong, and that this is an objective truth.

So if a realist came up to me, and said stealing is wrong, I can understand that they are stating a fact, an objective truth in doing so.

Now if the realist says to me that I ought not steal, are they also expressing an objective truth? Or is it more of a subjective goal than an objective truth?

If I said no it’s not wrong to steal, according to moral realism, I’d be stating something factually incorrect, like stating the earth is flat.

Now if i said I reject the statement that I ought not steal, am I rejecting a fact, an objective truth here? Or just some subjective goal you and others want me to follow?

I am nice so I return the wallet.