Essay --

Almost everyone seems to believe that we live in a world with objective norms; norms about we should and shouldn’t do, norms about what is good and what is bad, what is right and what is wrong. We are always interested in discussing what is morally right or objectively valued but do we ask whether anything is anyhow valued? The error theory already asked whether norms exist at all and what we may mistake as an objective value. Error theory rejects the idea that there are objective moral norms, values, and rights that are independent of us. Moral claims are generally understood to be objective and controlling. An objective claim is a claim about the way the world is, it is the truth of the world out there, independent of what people think about the world. If it is a norm says that killing is wrong, then killing would remain wrong even in civilizations that permit it or force it. To say that a claim is objective is to say that it exists objectively and does not claim anything about us. What we mistake to be an objective claim is only a personal demand but enclosed in a mistaken normative language. If we say: ‘Don’t allow abortion’, this is what we demand. But if we say ‘Abortion is wrong’, we are saying that there is some independent fact, an objective norm created not by us or by anyone. It just exists objectively. But moral claims only arise when people demand and recommend, and demands could never be objective. But what is really going on when people make moral judgments? The moral judgments we make are things we think are true, things that we think we are doing, what we intend to do. A group of persons, or even every person on earth can be mistaken about some accepted beliefs, but it makes no sense to say that all of them are... ...nk that if we are not guided by norms, we will be guided by selfish or cruel motives. We are instinctively influenced by self-interest and anger, but thanks to centuries of preparation of civilizations to respect other people, we have developed sensitive and friendly personalities. As we begin our day we normally follow laws, and we rarely think about consequences or about what norm require us to act. Our daily decisions are made of our instincts, desires, habits, feelings, and beliefs. Selfishness and normative beliefs play a small role in this world of decisions but what we end up doing is the product of countless and often imperceptible reasons. The moral error theory is not widely believed, but the error theory is closer to our common sense because it does not require us to hold on to false and doubtful claims, or to waste time arguing about our own projections. Essay -- Almost everyone seems to believe that we live in a world with objective norms; norms about we should and shouldn’t do, norms about what is good and what is bad, what is right and what is wrong. We are always interested in discussing what is morally right or objectively valued but do we ask whether anything is anyhow valued? The error theory already asked whether norms exist at all and what we may mistake as an objective value. Error theory rejects the idea that there are objective moral norms, values, and rights that are independent of us. Moral claims are generally understood to be objective and controlling. An objective claim is a claim about the way the world is, it is the truth of the world out there, independent of what people think about the world. If it is a norm says that killing is wrong, then killing would remain wrong even in civilizations that permit it or force it. To say that a claim is objective is to say that it exists objectively and does not claim anything about us. What we mistake to be an objective claim is only a personal demand but enclosed in a mistaken normative language. If we say: ‘Don’t allow abortion’, this is what we demand. But if we say ‘Abortion is wrong’, we are saying that there is some independent fact, an objective norm created not by us or by anyone. It just exists objectively. But moral claims only arise when people demand and recommend, and demands could never be objective. But what is really going on when people make moral judgments? The moral judgments we make are things we think are true, things that we think we are doing, what we intend to do. A group of persons, or even every person on earth can be mistaken about some accepted beliefs, but it makes no sense to say that all of them are... ...nk that if we are not guided by norms, we will be guided by selfish or cruel motives. We are instinctively influenced by self-interest and anger, but thanks to centuries of preparation of civilizations to respect other people, we have developed sensitive and friendly personalities. As we begin our day we normally follow laws, and we rarely think about consequences or about what norm require us to act. Our daily decisions are made of our instincts, desires, habits, feelings, and beliefs. Selfishness and normative beliefs play a small role in this world of decisions but what we end up doing is the product of countless and often imperceptible reasons. The moral error theory is not widely believed, but the error theory is closer to our common sense because it does not require us to hold on to false and doubtful claims, or to waste time arguing about our own projections.