Objective Morality

Objective Morality

                 Objective morality is often portrayed as something in need of a supreme objective lawgiver or moral arbiter. I would say that the only moral arbiter is humanity itself. Far too often, we see that putting objective morality in the hands of blind dogma leads to irresponsible acts. When people believe that they are separate from moral decisions they excuse themselves from moral responsibility. Edicts from an invisible deity are twisted and interpreted to rationalize almost anything a person can conceive.

               Individual and societal responsibility to a principle of reducing harm and increasing well being is the true objective morality. It is perfectly fine,even admirable, to say that humankind will get it wrong on occasion. Yet, the fact that we can be wrong does not alleviate our responsibility to continue the moral debate. Our societies are based on laws of conduct debated by humans, and the debate must continue. It is morally irresponsible to stop the debate and blindly hand over morality to arcane ideologies.