Here is the general form of my argument.
A person says, "X" is true of morality or of "moral judgments" in the public at large. This brings the talk of an objective morality to its knees. I answer that X is also true if science "or of "truth judgments" in the public at large. But it does not bring all talk of objectivity n science to its knees. Therefore, the original argument is invalid.
A case in point: whether somethis is moral depends on your definition of moral. But there is no objective way to determine the correct definition of "moral". Therefore, there is no chance of an objective morality.
Well, whether Pluto is a planet depends on your definition of "planet". There is no way todetermine an onjectively correct definition of "planet". Yet, planetology remains a science.
Yes, many moral judgments are projections of an individual's likes and dislikestreated as intrinsic properties. But, then, many of their perceptions and observations are theory-laden. This does not eliminate the possibility of objectivity in science. We simply incorporate these facts about our perceptions into our objective account.
The original post to which I responded did not provide a helpful definition. Defining "subjective" as "mind independent" denies the fact that minds are a part of the real world, and we can make objectively true and false claims about minds. Values may not exist without minds, but minds are real. They are a part of the world. And so are values.
Every "subjective" claim has an "objective" claim that says exactly the same thing.
A case in point: whether somethis is moral depends on your definition of moral. But there is no objective way to determine the correct definition of "moral". Therefore, there is no chance of an objective morality.
Well, whether Pluto is a planet depends on your definition of "planet". There is no way to determine an objectively correct definition of "planet". Yet, planetology remains a science.
Of course I never made such an argument, so this rebuttal is rather odd.
Your point of course leads to the question: what does make sc...
Do you believe in an objective morality capable of being scientifically investigated (a la Sam Harris *or others*), or are you a moral nihilist/relativist? There seems to be some division on this point. I would have thought Less Wrong to be well in the former camp.
Edit: There seems to be some confusion - when I say "an objective morality capable of being scientifically investigated (a la Sam Harris *or others*)" - I do NOT mean something like a "one true, universal, metaphysical morality for all mind-designs" like the Socratic/Platonic Form of Good or any such nonsense. I just mean something in reality that's mind-independent - in the sense that it is hard-wired, e.g. by evolution, and thus independent/prior to any later knowledge or cognitive content - and thus can be investigated scientifically. It is a definite "is" from which we can make true "ought" statements relative to that "is". See drethelin's comment and my analysis of Clippy.