Brain in a Vat Moral Disagreement | Eric Sampson
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Nov 14, 2021 Eric Sampson, a moral philosophy expert from Rhodes College, dives into the labyrinth of moral disagreement in today's world. He challenges listeners to ponder how to hold confidence in their moral beliefs amidst numerous conflicting views. Sampson critiques the methods used to arrive at moral conclusions and discusses the perplexities of engaging with moral nihilists. The conversation also touches on the stubbornness of moral beliefs and the intricate ties between personal values and philosophical reasoning, advocating for epistemic humility.
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Don't Let Polls Define Moral Truth
- Don't treat public opinion polls as moral truth because views change across time and cultures.
- Avoid deriving 'ought' from 'is' by assuming majority beliefs establish moral facts.
Truths Without A Single Unifying Theory
- There could be many mind-independent moral truths without any unifying grand theory.
- That explains overlapping agreement on many moral claims while theories diverge on foundations.
Error Theory As A Live Alternative
- The error theorist explains disagreement by denying moral facts and treating moral claims as expressions of preference.
- That position remains a live metaphysical alternative to moral realism.