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| Sunday |
Blackburn: 'Objectivism (ethics) Any view upholding the objective status of ethical commitment, in opposition to error theories, scepticism, and relativism. The central problem is finding the source of the required objectivity. (267).
On error theory: 'Term due to the 20th-century philosopher J.L.Mackie, describing a theory according to which everyday thought in some area is sufficiently infected by mistaken philosophical views to be widely in error.' (125).
Mackie was a key non-theistic exemplar for MPhil and PhD studies. In the context I examined, he was a non-theistic compatibilist.
Cambridge explains: 'Objectivism may be naturalist or non-naturalist. The naturalist objectivist believes that values, duties, or whatever are natural phenomena detectable by introspection, perception, or scientific inference. (244). This is connected to empiricism and empirical facts. (244).
I agree. I connect naturalism, philosophically with empiricism.
The non-naturalist objectivist, believes that values and ethics exist independently of any belief about them. (244). These can be revealed as ethical intuition and as necessary. (244). These are not based on empiricism (primarily at least) but more so an approaches within rationalism. Based on reason.
The Christian, theistic position would be largely at least, based on the non-naturalist view. Scripture, theology and philosophy would be reasonable sources of objective ethics. The Hebrew Bible and New Testament viewed as actual, documented texts with thousands of manuscripts in whole and part. The Scripture viewed as religious history, inspired by God through writers that experienced God. In the New Testament context, the Son of God. Theology, as in Christian theology, would be the philosophy of God in support of Scripture. Philosophy and Philosophy of Religion, when in agreement with Scripture and theology, would be under the concept of 'All truth is God's truth.' I reason there is room for a limited type empiricism, in the sense that within a Christian theistic worldview, scientifically the finite, material world can be practically understood through science.
Naturalism and empiricism is often connected to non-religious worldviews.
In my philosophical understanding, no person is completely objective in intellectual approach and worldview. There are assumptions and biases that effect and influence reasoning. However, a significant objectivity is willing to examine different views and to accept where facts lead. In other words, to avoid being so emotionally attached to views that a reconsideration of views in virtually impossible.
BLACKBURN, SIMON (1996) Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy, Oxford, Oxford University Press.
SPRIGGE, T.L.S (1996) 'Ethical Objectivism', The Cambridge Dictionary of Philosophy, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.
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