Praxeology with Dr. Praxeology with Dr. TT

With the sound on your computer system turned on and turned up, please Click on the Golden

Speaker on the right to hear an important preliminary message:

Is it All a Is it All a Matter of Matter of Opinion?Opinion?

Hugh Mercer CurtlerHugh Mercer Curtler

Relativism is CommonRelativism is Common

““To each his own.”To each his own.” ““Everybody is entitled to his own Everybody is entitled to his own

opinion.”opinion.” ““When in Rome, do as the Romans do.”When in Rome, do as the Romans do.” ““Different strokes for different folks.”Different strokes for different folks.” ““Whatever floats your boat.”Whatever floats your boat.” ““It’s all relative.”It’s all relative.”

Do we think of ourselves as relativists?Do we think of ourselves as relativists?

What are Ethical Claims What are Ethical Claims About?About?

Subjects and Cultures? Subjects and Cultures? OrOr Objects and events? Objects and events?

““Brutus was wrong in killing Caesar.”Brutus was wrong in killing Caesar.”

– Am I saying something about myself or my Am I saying something about myself or my culture?culture? ““I”I” think he was wrong. think he was wrong. ““In my culture”In my culture” what he did is considered wrong. what he did is considered wrong. This is This is subjectivismsubjectivism, or , or relativismrelativism..

– Am I saying something about the act itself?Am I saying something about the act itself? The act is wrong in any culture, at any time.The act is wrong in any culture, at any time. This is This is objectivismobjectivism..

For the Individual Subjectivist For the Individual Subjectivist (relativist) . . .(relativist) . . . – Reasons support only the fact that one does Reasons support only the fact that one does

indeed approve or disapprove.indeed approve or disapprove.– Or perhaps the person will have no reasons at allOr perhaps the person will have no reasons at all

—just pure opinion/feeling/prejudice.—just pure opinion/feeling/prejudice.

For the Cultural Relativist . . .For the Cultural Relativist . . .– Reasons support the idea that most people in Reasons support the idea that most people in

the society do indeed approve or disapprove.the society do indeed approve or disapprove.– ““But Mom, everybody does it!”But Mom, everybody does it!”

For the Objectivist . . .For the Objectivist . . .– Reasons support the idea that the act is wrong, Reasons support the idea that the act is wrong,

regardless of personal or cultural dispositions. regardless of personal or cultural dispositions. – The act itself is always and forever morally The act itself is always and forever morally

wrong. wrong.

A Side Note on EconomicsA Side Note on Economics

Economists often say that value and Economists often say that value and utilities are “utilities are “subjectivesubjective.”.”– Does this mean that they are subjectivists?Does this mean that they are subjectivists?

No! Not in the ethical senseNo! Not in the ethical sense..

When economists talk of value, they mean When economists talk of value, they mean such things as preferences, likes, and such things as preferences, likes, and dislikes, rather than moral judgments of right dislikes, rather than moral judgments of right and wrong.and wrong.

Value Judgments True Value Judgments True andand False?False?

For the Objectivist . . .For the Objectivist . . .– A claim cannot be both true and false at A claim cannot be both true and false at

same time.same time.– The objectivist does not argue that he The objectivist does not argue that he

knowsknows whether a certain claim is true, only whether a certain claim is true, only that it that it ISIS either true or false, and not both. either true or false, and not both.

For the Subjectivist . . .For the Subjectivist . . .– A claim can be both true and false for A claim can be both true and false for

different people in different places, etc.different people in different places, etc.

WhyWhy was Brutus wrong to kill was Brutus wrong to kill Caesar?Caesar?

For the Individual Subjectivist . . .For the Individual Subjectivist . . .– ““I just feel that way. It makes me sick!”I just feel that way. It makes me sick!”

For the Cultural Relativist . . .For the Cultural Relativist . . .– ““Because it is morally repugnant to people Because it is morally repugnant to people

in my culture. Plus, it’s in my culture. Plus, it’s illegalillegal.”.”

For the Objectivist . . .For the Objectivist . . .– ““Because it violates ethical principles Because it violates ethical principles

concerning respect for life and the non-concerning respect for life and the non-aggression principle which are principles that aggression principle which are principles that are basic to any human society anywhere.” are basic to any human society anywhere.”

Objective versus Relative Objective versus Relative ClaimsClaims

Objective claims can be independently Objective claims can be independently verified or falsified.verified or falsified.– The average man in the class is taller than the The average man in the class is taller than the

average woman in the class.average woman in the class.

Relative claims cannot be verified or Relative claims cannot be verified or falsified.falsified.– They say nothing about They say nothing about shared realityshared reality..– Jim believesJim believes that the average man in the class that the average man in the class

is taller than the average woman in the class.is taller than the average woman in the class. What Jim believes cannot be verified independently.What Jim believes cannot be verified independently.

The Socratic MethodThe Socratic Method

A continuous process of critically and A continuous process of critically and rationally examining ethical claims, rationally examining ethical claims, falsifying some, and regarding the falsifying some, and regarding the remaining claims as true. remaining claims as true.

The process gradually eliminates The process gradually eliminates subjective and cultural factors, and subjective and cultural factors, and identifies the factors that are identifies the factors that are objective. objective.

““Shakespeare was a Great Shakespeare was a Great Writer.”Writer.”

How do we know?How do we know?

Might some people not think that is Might some people not think that is true?true?

Is it independently verifiable by Is it independently verifiable by anyone?anyone?

The Flat Earth FolksThe Flat Earth Folks Is the idea that the earth is round Is the idea that the earth is round

just an opinion? just an opinion? – Apparently, some think it is just opinion.Apparently, some think it is just opinion.– They are blinded by prejudice and bias.They are blinded by prejudice and bias.– They are incapable of rational thought.They are incapable of rational thought.– The Socratic method tries to eliminate The Socratic method tries to eliminate

prejudice and bias—which are subjective prejudice and bias—which are subjective or cultural factors.or cultural factors.

Relativism: A Pernicious Relativism: A Pernicious DoctrineDoctrine

It ends the discussion before it can It ends the discussion before it can begin.begin.

– By suggesting that there is never a By suggesting that there is never a correct (objectively verifiable) answer for correct (objectively verifiable) answer for anything.anything.

– By ignoring the value of reason in ethical By ignoring the value of reason in ethical argumentation.argumentation.

““Ethical claims can be supported by Ethical claims can be supported by reasonable arguments and evidence that reasonable arguments and evidence that

command the respect and assent of command the respect and assent of people of intelligence and goodwill people of intelligence and goodwill

anywhere and at any time.”anywhere and at any time.”

If this is true, do you think the realm of If this is true, do you think the realm of objective, justifiable, ethical claims is objective, justifiable, ethical claims is large, or small?large, or small?

Are there any conceptual problems with Are there any conceptual problems with the above statement?the above statement?

Good afternoon, good evening, Good afternoon, good evening,

and good night.and good night.