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    LoyalLoyalJusticeJustice
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    Without confidence that our affections track real feature... — Carmelics
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    Challenges→Our obligation to virtue remains fully valid even under radical skepticism about external reality.

    Without confidence that our affections track real features of the world, the distinction between well-ordered and disordered passions becomes an internal aesthetic preference, not a moral obligation.

    ?Rate how convincing each reason is below to see the overall strength.
    1 reason for
    1 reason against

    Reasons For

    1 perspective
    Reason for
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    • 1.Moral obligations require objective grounds; subjective preferences alone cannot generate genuine duties.
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    • 2.If affections don't track reality, we lack external standards to distinguish healthy from pathological emotional responses.
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    • 3.Without mind-independent moral facts, calling some passions 'disordered' merely expresses personal taste, not truth.
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    Reasons Against

    1 perspective
    Reason against
    ?
    • 1.Moral obligations can derive from facts about human flourishing and suffering, not metaphysical mind-independent features.
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    • 2.Well-ordered passions promote rational agency and psychological health; disorder causes demonstrable harm—no external tracking needed.
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    • 3.The distinction between aesthetic preference and moral obligation doesn't depend on affections mirroring objective reality.
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    Key Terms

    Track(logic and argument)
    In philosophy, this means 'correspond to' or 'align with'—so 'deontic distinctions track blame' means moral rules match up with who we blame.
    aesthetic preference(as used in aesthetics and ethics)
    A personal taste or liking based on what you find beautiful or appealing, rather than what is objectively true or right.
    affections(as used in ethics and philosophy of emotion)
    Your feelings, emotions, and desires—the things you care about or are drawn to.
    disordered passions(as used in virtue ethics)
    Emotions and desires that are chaotic, misaligned, or pointed toward the wrong things—the opposite of well-ordered passions.
    moral obligation(Divine command theory / moral argument for theism)
    An expression of God's will, command, motivation, preference, or desire.
    well-ordered passions(as used in virtue ethics)
    Emotions and desires that are arranged or organized in the right way—meaning they align with reason, virtue, or what's actually good.

    Connections

    2 topics

    Virtue Ethics1 linkedSkepticism1 linked

    Related

    If affections don't track reality, we lack external standards to distinguish hea...Moral obligations can derive from facts about human flourishing and suffering, n...

    Details

    Type
    claim
    Perspectives
    2 (1 for, 1 against)
    Edits
    1 edit
    Moral obligations require objective grounds; subjective preferences alone cannot...
    Our obligation to virtue remains fully valid even under radical skepticism about...
    +3 moreShow less
    The distinction between aesthetic preference and moral obligation doesn't depend...Well-ordered passions promote rational agency and psychological health; disorder...Without mind-independent moral facts, calling some passions 'disordered' merely ...