Can we trust our Moral Intuitions?

[vulcanlogician]

But what are the principles?  What is "doing the right thing?"

That's an open question. I think any rational person can attempt to answer this, and much of the time it isn't going to be a simple regurgitation of cultural norms. A rational person who grew up in a system of cultural norms may end up criticizing those very same cultural norms. When this happens, is it some kind of aberration? I think it's the product of freethinking. I see value in it. But then the question remains, what makes it valuable?

There are many situations where "good" and "bad" are assessments based on objective criteria. "Kobe Bryant is good at basketball." This is NOT my opinion. It's a fact. Even though I'm assessing value. Sure there are many variables involved, but (just like an algebraic equation) that doesn't mean it isn't an objective statement. I want to argue that morality is in the same camp as "good at basketball" where valuations have an objective referent. Is there one thing that makes someone "good at basketball"? Is it entirely clear exactly what things make someone good? For every example of a "good at basketball" trait (can dunk, is tall) you can find another example that also works (is short, but can rebound).

Ethics is much the same. Many discussions to be had about what principles are at work in morally good actions. But that doesn't make it subjective. And that doesn't make it fantasy. "Kobe Bryant is good at basketball." Is an objectively true statement, and also a valuation.