(March 23, 2026 at 8:06 pm)The Grand Nudger Wrote:(March 22, 2026 at 10:37 pm)Fake Messiah Wrote: Morals in Western societies come from what people agree to through discussions, human experience, and politicians they choose. By doing that, people are not discovering some universal truths (morals), but what works in some place at a certain timeline with the least amount of damage to everyone. That is a democratic and humanistic way.
But when you have these ideas of moral universalism and/or moral realism, what you really have is a group of people claiming that they know what is moral with all the baggage that comes with it. So, moral universalism and/or moral realism pretty much looks like just another way of trying to shoehorn authoritarianism.
First, universalism and realism are wildly distinct ideas about morality. Second, no, lol. Moral realism doesn't tell you "what is moral". There is no list. There is no authority. Moral realism is a way to think about a morality that leans on what is or is not factually true as a guide for ones own behavior. Thus, here I am agreeing that the underlying point that ethical veganism and vegetarianism begin with is a valid one, and is true - but I don't think this puts every meat eater on some bad list.
There's a system that has moral facts but doesn't tell you what is moral? Sounds screwy to me.


