Can anything objectively be called Good or Bad?
I think it's a straightforward question.
Is child molestation objectively bad? Is the killing of innocent human beings objectively bad? Is slavery objectively bad? If they are, then why? What are we going to appeal to when we say that the above mentioned things are always bad, without exception? Clearly we cannot appeal to moral relativism or subjectivism, we need to appeal to some standard of moral realism and if we do that, we can safely say that there are things that can be called objectively good or bad. If we, however, take the approach that nothing can be called objectively good or bad - well, if it isn't objective then by its very nature it becomes subjective. If it becomes subjective, then it becomes arbitrary - good or bad cease to exist. All that will be left will be preferences. To say that something is wrong is simply to say ''I do not like it'' or ''I am socially conditioned to not like it''. From a relativistic view, you can't ever condemn anyone for anything, because ultimately to condemn someone you have to appeal to your own biases and relative views. 1
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