reply to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fisH54IFoEw I think there is an element of hypocrisy in any kind of moral preachery by moral realists, in particular theists. If morality is real, why would it matter whether anyone believes in God or not? The laws of physics also don't just disintegrate merely because no one believes in them. Saying that God is necessary for morality to be objective is one thing, saying that BELIEF in God is necessary for society to be moral is another thing, that contradicts the moral realism claim and could even be seen as immoral in itself. Dostojewski didn't say "if God's existence is denied, then everything is permitted", but "If God did not exist, everything would be permitted”". Note the difference. J.P. Sartre answered: "Everything is indeed permitted if God does not exist, and man is in consequence forlorn, for he cannot find anything to depend upon either within or outside himself. He discovers forthwith, that he is without excuse. For if indeed existence precedes essence, one will never be able to explain one’s action by reference to a given and specific human nature; in other words, there is no determinism – man is free, man is freedom. Nor, on the other hand, if God does not exist, are we provided with any values or commands that could legitimise our behaviour. Thus we have neither behind us, nor before us in a luminous realm of values, any means of justification or excuse. – We are left alone, without excuse. That is what I mean when I say that man is condemned to be free. Condemned, because he did not create himself, yet is nevertheless at liberty, and from the moment that he is thrown into this world he is responsible for everything he does. "

• published: 28 Sep 2014
• views: 9