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THE MORAL ARGUMENT
• The moral argument has traditionally been associated with the practical philosophy of I. Kant.
But there are also some contemporary defenders of the moral argument such as C.S. Lewis.
• There are several types of the moral argument.
• Some emphasize that the objectivity of moral truths (moral realism) can be explained by reference to God.
KANT AND MORAL ARGUMENT
• The moral argument that is attributed to Kant appeals to his practical (moral) philosophy.
• In Kant's moral metaphysics, good will is the necessary condition of morality and being worthy of happiness. This is because man is rational and has free will.
• Our will ought be unconditionally determined by the moral law, which is universal.
• Man should always act in accordance with such a universal moral law.
THE HIGHEST GOOD
• The ultimate goal of moral actions is the realization of the "highest good». Such an ideal is generated as the end of moral actions. It is the necessary object of a will determined by moral law.
• However, it is impossible for a person to achieve this ideal - where happiness is proportioned to virtue- in this world.
• The achievement of this ideal is possible only through the immortality of the soul and the existence of God.
• The existence of God is therefore postulated.
EVALUATION
• It is not clear whether Kant’s postulating the existence of God is meant to be an argument.
• By postulating the existence of God, it it controversial as to whether Kant wanted to fill a gap in his moral metaphysics or he wanted to develop a proper argument for the existence of God.
• On the one hand, Kant tries to maintain the autonomy of morality, on the other hand, he attributes the realization of the highest good to the existence of God.
EVALUATION
• It has also been controversial if the realisation of the highest good is a proper end of our moral actions.
• According to Mackie, the realization of the highest good is not a necessary postulate if morality is autonomous.
• But, can there be a true morality without such ideal given that happiness ought to be proportionate to virtue?
THE OBJECTIVITY OF MORAL TRUTHS
• The source of morality matters if it is conceded that moral truths objectively valid and therefore independently true of our agreements, conventions or actions.
• C. S. Lewis argued for the objectivity of moral truths considering that they cannot be relative to a person or society. The idea that morality is relative is sometimes put forward as a reason for being tolerant against others. But the very idea of tolerance (that one ought to be tolerant), for Lewis, justifies moral objectivity.
• According to Lewis, the source of moral objectivity cannot be the factual world. Because science gives us an explanation of the «what is», it can not say anything about «what ought to be».
• Nor can the source of moral objectivity be the human mind.
Because the validity of moral truths holds even if no human being exist.
• The objectivity of moral truth can therefore be explained only by reference to a supernatural mind, that is God.
