IS RIGHT JUST A MATTER OF OPINION?

An essay by the Lady Socrates ...

Ethics includes the consideration of what people should do and why. It's not "just" a matter of opinion. Someone is not the Queen of England, just because she thinks she is.

We put most people who think that in mental hospitals. They need some serious help.

Of course, the Queen of England also happens to think she's the Queen of England, but it's not her opinion that makes this true. She really is the Queen of England.

There must be some other criterion by which we are able to determine whose opinion is right and whose is wrong.

Let's make a distinction here. There are "matters of taste" and "matters of truth" (thank you, Mortimer Adler) and one's own opinion is what determines matters of taste.

If I am of the opinion that broccoli tastes good and you are not, we can both be right. It can taste good to one of us and not to the other.

However, in matters of truth, the criterion is not our own taste buds.

When we speak of the actions of human beings that affect other human beings, the criterion is not personal tastes, it's reason. If we disagree on what should be done we give our reasons, and if we don't, we're asked for them.

This does not mean, however, that the only basis for the morality of a human action can be reason. In response to the question, "Why did you do that?" A good reason might be, "Because I care about you." Feelings are sometimes good reasons for doing things.

But if you just slapped me and then claim you did so because you care about me ... well, perhaps you should consider "visiting" some of the Queen Elizabeths from the first paragraph.

Remember that matters of opinion are of two types, and ethics are not ...

So, the next time someone comments that ethics are just "a matter of opinion", remember that matters of opinion are of two types and ethics are not, as this statement usually implies, matters of taste.

You might consider a response like this one:

"Yes, they are matters of opinion. But, the important question is whether that opinion is ... right? or wrong?"