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The Dissenter
#1030 Joel Marks: Are Moral Values Objective?
Dec 9, 2024
Joel Marks, professor emeritus of philosophy and bioethics scholar, dives deep into the complexities of moral values. He explores the origins of morality, emphasizing the influence of emotions like guilt and shame. The conversation delves into debates over objective moral values and challenges faced by atheists in reconciling nonbelief with morality. Marks also introduces desirism, advocating for understanding morality through individual desires rather than strict absolutes, encouraging a fresh perspective on ethics.
01:14:18
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Quick takeaways
- Dr. Joel Marks argues that moral values are shaped by human desires rather than existing as objective truths, emphasizing a subjective understanding of morality.
- Emotions like guilt and shame are critical in shaping individual behavior and societal norms, highlighting the complex interplay of internalized values within communities.
Deep dives
The Origin of Morality: Desires and Beliefs
Morality is thought to stem from human desires, where the strongest desires shape our beliefs about how the world ought to be. Dr. Marks emphasizes that rather than holding a belief in objective goods, we create good through our desires. This hierarchical understanding of desire influences how we perceive right and wrong, as what we desire most compels us to believe that it should come to pass, thus introducing moral reasoning into our thought processes. Consequently, morality does not exist independently but is intertwined with the subjective nature of human wants and needs.
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