The Historical and Contemporary Understanding of Moral Value
College
College of Arts and Sciences
Department
Philosophy & Religious Studies
Faculty Mentor
M. Gregory Oakes, Ph.D.
Abstract
In the following essay, I argue that, while historically moral value has been posited as coming from an objective source (such as God) and while this objective source has been understood as a necessary condition for the existence of moral value, in the absence of an objective source of moral value (such as the death of God) there exists a potential for the creation of moral value, so that moral nihilism does not follow from the lack of an objective source of moral value. I look at Plato, Augustine, and Kant, who assert that moral value requires an objective source to exist. For Plato, the form of the good is the objective source of moral value, for Augustine, God, and for Kant, the categorical imperative. Next, I examine Frans De Waal, Bernard Reginster, and Simone de Beauvoir, who provide potentials to avoid moral nihilism. Frans De Waal rejects Veneer Theory that posits morality as a thin veneer over an otherwise selfish nature and instead asserts that the building blocks of morality are evolutionarily ancient. Next, Bernard Reginster interprets Nietzsche’s will to power as the will to overcome resistance and subsequently advocates an ethics of creativity. Finally, Simone Beauvoir asserts that we should treat every man’s ultimate end as freedom. I conclude that, in the absence of an objective source of moral value, there exists a potential for the creation of moral value, so that moral nihilism does not follow from the lack of an objective source.
Start Date
24-4-2015 2:35 PM
The Historical and Contemporary Understanding of Moral Value
DiGiorgio Campus Center, Room 220
In the following essay, I argue that, while historically moral value has been posited as coming from an objective source (such as God) and while this objective source has been understood as a necessary condition for the existence of moral value, in the absence of an objective source of moral value (such as the death of God) there exists a potential for the creation of moral value, so that moral nihilism does not follow from the lack of an objective source of moral value. I look at Plato, Augustine, and Kant, who assert that moral value requires an objective source to exist. For Plato, the form of the good is the objective source of moral value, for Augustine, God, and for Kant, the categorical imperative. Next, I examine Frans De Waal, Bernard Reginster, and Simone de Beauvoir, who provide potentials to avoid moral nihilism. Frans De Waal rejects Veneer Theory that posits morality as a thin veneer over an otherwise selfish nature and instead asserts that the building blocks of morality are evolutionarily ancient. Next, Bernard Reginster interprets Nietzsche’s will to power as the will to overcome resistance and subsequently advocates an ethics of creativity. Finally, Simone Beauvoir asserts that we should treat every man’s ultimate end as freedom. I conclude that, in the absence of an objective source of moral value, there exists a potential for the creation of moral value, so that moral nihilism does not follow from the lack of an objective source.
