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The truth about morality

Stephen Kershnar
January 7, 2009

A widely held view is that morality is objective. On this view, moral questions (for example, is genocide wrong?) have right answers. Despite the centrality of this view to the way in which we see the world, it is probably false. In general, there are two types of objective facts. One type involves a relation between concepts. Examples include mathematical truths (for example, 2 + 3 = 5) and definitional truths (for example, triangles have three sides). These facts are discovered by abstract reasoning or by grasping self-evident truths. A second type involves objects having certain properties. Examples include the fact that whales are mammals and the fact that the speed of sound is 767.58 mph. These facts are discovered by observing what goes on in the world and are what science focuses on. Moral ideas do not fit into either category. Morality does not involve a mere relation between concepts. Consider M.I.T. professor Judith Jarvis Thomson’s example about George. George is on a

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New York—Residents need some optimism

January 7, 2009

Today, New York Gov. David Paterson will give his first State of the State address.

Without question, the backdrop will be doom and gloom.

Last week, Paterson was one of five governors who asked the U.S. Congress for financial

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Remembering a U.S. activist

January 5, 2009



Most Americans never have heard of Paul Weyrich, and he never cared if they did. For Weyrich was a man of ideas, more to the point the politics of ideas, through which he played a crucial role in forming what became known in the 1980s an

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Plant a tree to address global warming

January 5, 2009

I would like to comment on the article in the OBSERVER regarding Sen. Charles Schumer’s opposition to the proposed “cow tax” (Dec. 29, 2008).

When it comes to methane gas from cows, think about the thousands of the trees that are on the

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RETROSPECTIVE

January 5, 2009

Twenty years ago — 1989

The first baby of the New Year born at Brooks Hospital in Dunkirk was John Patrick Phillips Jr., son of John and Terry (Sysol) Phillips of 414 Park Ave., Dunkirk. He arrived at 2:02 p.m. New Year’s Day, weighing 7

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Old, bad habits drive up costs

January 4, 2009

As a retired state employee, reading the latest news on the budget crisis in New York state, I find most of it almost laughable, if not so sad. Maybe criminal is a better word than sad. It’s criminal when business people squander your money for perso

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