Feelings Shape Ethics, Reason Serves Them

Moral judgments stem primarily from personal feelings and preferences rather than objective moral truths. When assessing actions like murder, individuals may argue based on ethical principles; however, as David Hume suggests, these justifications are often constructed post-factum to rationalize intrinsic emotional responses. Reason plays a crucial role in ethical development, aiding in understanding and reconciling contradictions, but it remains subordinate to emotional conviction. Therefore, personal moral preferences dictate one's ethical standings, showcasing the influence of feelings over purely logical arguments in moral reasoning.