Objective Morality

Introduction

Objective morality is a philosophical concept that holds moral principles and values that exist independently of individual beliefs, opinions, or cultural norms. It challenges the idea that moral beliefs are entirely subjective and subject to personal whims and asserts that there are moral truths that hold true regardless of personal perspectives. Typically, objective moralists believe that morality is given by God and is understandable by closely observing nature – this is known as natural law. This central belief of objective morality, that certain actions are inherently right or wrong, and that these moral facts can be discovered or reasoned through philosophical inquiry or ethical analysis, is a highly debated topic in modern philosophical circles. Objective morality raises questions about the source of objective moral values and the extent to which they can be known or defined.^[1]

Conservative perspective

Conservatives tend to embrace the concept of objective morality. Many conservatives believe in the existence of moral absolutes which are derived from religious texts, such as Christianity or Judaism. Conservatives often see moral relativism as a source of the modern decline of Western society. Additionally, conservatives often reject efforts that try to expand the boundaries of morality, particularly in areas such as family structure, marriage, and gender roles, which they see as advocating for moral relativism and challenging traditional moral norms.^[2]

Religion

Many conservatives believe in the existence of moral absolutes, which are unchanging and universal moral principles that apply to all individuals and situations. These moral absolutes are often derived from religious texts, such as the Bible. Conservatives often argue that moral values are grounded in a higher power or divine authority, and that these values are considered absolute and unchangeable. A clear example of this would be how Christians and Jews get their moral convictions and beliefs from the commandments given by God, and how they shape their lives to abide by them.^[3]

Non-religious conservatives often still believe in some kind of objective morality and believe in its objectiveness as something inherent in humans, being derived and learnable from reason and nature.

Natural Law Indicators

Conservatives argue that there exist inherent moral principles rooted within both human beings and the natural world. Their argument revolves around the idea that specific moral certainties can be recognized through rational thinking and careful observation of the natural order. This is known as natural law and originates from Aristotle. For instance, throughout history, nearly every society has viewed the killing of innocents, be it during a war or not, as morally wrong, this itself is an indicator that morality is intrinsic. The same can be said with cannibalism, helping the less fortunate, etc.

Rejecting moral relativism

Conservatives reject moral relativism, which asserts that morality is subjective and varies from person to person or culture to culture. They argue that relativism can lead to moral decay and social instability, and they advocate for the importance of clear moral standards. Conservatives put forward a theory to prove moral relativist wrong, which is that if moral relativism was right, everyone must regard a society that kills infants for amusement as equal to a society that doesn’t, which seems to be evil.