Philosophy Metaethics Questions Medium
Moral intuition absolutism is a philosophical position within metaethics that asserts the existence of objective moral truths that can be known through our moral intuitions. According to moral intuition absolutism, there are certain moral principles or values that are universally true and binding, regardless of cultural or individual differences.
Proponents of moral intuition absolutism argue that our moral intuitions, which are immediate and non-inferential judgments about the rightness or wrongness of certain actions or situations, provide us with direct access to these objective moral truths. They believe that these intuitions are reliable and can guide us in determining what is morally right or wrong.
Moral intuition absolutism stands in contrast to moral relativism, which argues that moral judgments are subjective and vary across different cultures or individuals. Absolutists reject the idea that moral truths are merely a matter of personal opinion or cultural norms, and instead, they claim that there are objective moral facts that exist independently of human beliefs or attitudes.
Critics of moral intuition absolutism raise several objections. One concern is that moral intuitions can be influenced by various factors such as upbringing, cultural background, or personal biases, which may lead to conflicting intuitions among different individuals or cultures. Additionally, skeptics argue that relying solely on intuitions as a basis for moral judgments may be insufficient, as intuitions can be fallible and subject to error.
Despite these criticisms, moral intuition absolutism remains a significant position in metaethics, emphasizing the role of moral intuitions in understanding and discovering objective moral truths. It provides a framework for discussing and evaluating moral claims, and it continues to be a topic of debate among philosophers interested in understanding the nature of morality.