Moral Judgment is Driven by Feeling, Not Objective Facts

Murder is wrong primarily because it undermines individual autonomy, yet this moral judgment sparks a deeper inquiry into the nature of morality itself. David Hume challenges the notion that morality is rooted in objective facts, suggesting instead that moral judgments stem from feelings and preferences. While reason plays a vital role in ethical development, facilitating the refinement and organization of moral views, it does not dictate what is right or wrong. Hume argues that personal moral convictions reflect one’s preferences, which reason helps justify, leading to the conclusion that no objective moral truths exist—only varying degrees of moral preference.