Philosophy For Our Times
How I changed my mind about truth | Simon Blackburn
Sep 19, 2023
Renowned philosopher Simon Blackburn discusses navigating heated moral discussions, the play of perspective on moral dilemmas, and his notable disagreements with Richard Rorty. From understanding contentious topics to gaining insights into meta-ethics, Blackburn takes us on an enlightening journey into the depths of truth and its implications in the modern world.
28:09
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Quick takeaways
- Morality is a matter of attitudes, not purely subjective, and requires self-criticism and scrutiny of our own and others' attitudes.
- Engaging in moral dilemmas and continuously reassessing our attitudes fosters progress and the discovery of more defensible positions in ethical debates.
Deep dives
Objective morality without metaphysics
Simon Blackburn argues for a middle ground in which morality is a matter of our attitudes but not merely subjective. We have the capacity for self-criticism, enabling us to scrutinize our attitudes and those of others. While morality lacks metaphysical grounding, Blackburn defends the objectivist trappings of moral thought without relying on metaphysics. He acknowledges the existence of moral facts and the language of truth in moral discussions.
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