Why Our Children Don’t Think There Are Moral Facts

New York Times ^ | MARCH 2, 2015 | JUSTIN P. MCBRAYER

[nickcarraway]

What would you say if you found out that our public schools were teaching children that it is not true that it’s wrong to kill people for fun or cheat on tests? Would you be surprised?

I was. As a philosopher, I already knew that many college-aged students don’t believe in moral facts. While there are no national surveys quantifying this phenomenon, philosophy professors with whom I have spoken suggest that the overwhelming majority of college freshman in their classrooms view moral claims as mere opinions that are not true or are true only relative to a culture.

What I didn’t know was where this attitude came from. Given the presence of moral relativism in some academic circles, some people might naturally assume that philosophers themselves are to blame. But they aren’t. There are historical examples of philosophers who endorse a kind of moral relativism, dating back at least to Protagoras who declared that “man is the measure of all things,” and several who deny that there are any moral facts whatsoever. But such creatures are rare. Besides, if students are already showing up to college with this view of morality, it’s very unlikely that it’s the result of what professional philosophers are teaching. So where is the view coming from?

A few weeks ago, I learned that students are exposed to this sort of thinking well before crossing the threshold of higher education. When I went to visit my son’s second grade open house, I found a troubling pair of signs hanging over the bulletin board. They read:

Fact: Something that is true about a subject and can be tested or proven.

Opinion: What someone thinks, feels, or believes.

[ScottinVA]

The bitter fruits of this moral relativism come in news reports of teenagers murdering small children and infants and showing neither an ounce of remorse or an understanding as to why it’s wrong. Something has gone horribly wrong in this society.

[subterfuge]

What an idiot “philosopher” this author is.

[circlecity]

This was to be expected. Apart from a transcendent God there can be no objective morality, only personal preference and social convention.

[JRandomFreeper]

several who deny that there are any moral facts whatsoever.

That sounds like a moral absolute to me.

/johnny

[PapaNew]

Why Our Children Don’t Think There Are Moral Facts

Because they haven't been taught there are moral TRUTHS (ie. the Bible).

[Responsibility2nd]

Moral Absolutes Ping!

Freepmail Responsibility2nd or wagglebee to subscribe or unsubscribe from the moral absolutes ping list. FreeRepublic moral absolutes keyword search [ Add keyword moral absolutes to flag FR articles to this ping list ]

[WayneS]

From a scientific standpoint, there is nothing “disturbing” about the two signs.

Is the author’s child attending second grade at that school to learn philosophy, ethics and/or religion, or is he there to learn reading, writing, math and science?

[lee martell]

This trending amorality may become so pervasive an issue that businesses become the ones to fight it best. There may be large businesses such as Apple or IBM or Walmart that see it to their advantage that they train workers with a stronger sense of morality and compassion.

The politicians have become too afraid to espouse morality because it may cost them votes. The teachers and preachers are afraid to take a stand for morality because exposing their belief structures may cost them full employment. The drive to do something about this may lead us full circle, back to the days with prayers being said in schools, back to the days of clear winners and clear losers.
The industries themselves may realize it will be up to them to mold children into the kinds of people they would like to later hire.

[LucyT]

Why Our Children Don’t Think There Are Moral Facts
New York Times ^ | MARCH 2, 2015 | JUSTIN P. MCBRAYER

What would you say if you found out that our public schools were teaching children that it is not true that it’s wrong to kill people for fun or cheat on tests? Would you be surprised?

I was. As a philosopher, I already knew that many college-aged students don’t believe in moral facts. While there are no national surveys quantifying this phenomenon, philosophy professors with whom I have spoken suggest that the overwhelming majority of college freshman in their classrooms view moral claims as mere opinions that are not true or are true only relative to a culture.

What I didn’t know was where this attitude came from. - Given the presence of moral relativism in some academic circles, some people might naturally assume that philosophers themselves are to blame. - But they aren’t. - There are historical examples of philosophers who endorse a kind of moral relativism, dating back at least to Protagoras who declared that “man is the measure of all things,” and several who deny that there are any moral facts whatsoever.

But such creatures are rare. Besides, if students are already showing up to college with this view of morality, it’s very unlikely that it’s the result of what professional philosophers are teaching. -- So where is the view coming from?

A few weeks ago, I learned that students are exposed to this sort of thinking well before crossing the threshold of higher education. When I went to visit my son’s second grade open house, I found a troubling pair of signs hanging over the bulletin board. They read: ..."

Check out article

[MrB]

Well stated.

The fact is, today’s modern Humanists that are indoctrinating kids in the public schools

have no basis on which to say something is objectively right or wrong.

They can’t answer when a kid says “why?”

[stephenjohnbanker]

” Because they haven’t been taught there are moral TRUTHS (ie. the Bible). “

And their parents get an F for child rearing too.

[Jean2]

If he wants to know why that is; he should look in the darned mirror.

[muir_redwoods]

Ask them to describe a situation where rape is moral. Ask them to describe a situation where the torture of an innocent is moral. Ask them to describe a situation where plagiarism is moral.

[PapaNew]

And their parents (many of whom were also not taught moral, Biblical truths) get an F for child rearing too.

1900, the beginning of the world-wide "We don't need God" age.

1964, "We don't WANT God" codified in the U.S. with the unconstitutional federal banning of prayer in state schools.

[21twelve]

“Fact: Something that is true about a subject and can be tested or proven.”

I imagine the student was fairly young - and not concerned with philosphy. (Oranges are a fruit (fact.) I don’t like oranges - they are too messy. opinion).

OTOH, I imagine that many moral truths can be tested or proven. Just take a look at an inner city community with their high number of single mothers, kids that don’t even know their fathers, and then the crime that leads to, which then leads to gang murders, etc.

Of course, if one thinks that type of life is morally acceptable (drugging, pimping, stealing, and murdering) - then I guess those areas would be a prime destination spot. And; I guess they are for many.

[BenLurkin]

Why Our Children Don’t Think There Are Moral Facts

[stephenjohnbanker]

” 1964, “We don’t WANT God” codified in the U.S. with the unconstitutional federal banning of prayer in state schools. “

We never should have HAD state schools!

[MrB]

The left, in order to protect their “gods”,
have to throw out any measure of morality in favor of pragmatism...

so, I guess if some large boy “wants” a girl,
it’s pragmatic that he “takes” the girl.

[PapaNew]

Don’t disagree, but that was/is up to the people of each state. Certainly not a constitutional federal issue.