Apologetics Quote by Jon Morrison
““Think about goodness like you think about gravity. Whether or not you believe in gravity, it is still there. Every day you are affected by gravity regardless of how well you understand the physics of it. In this chapter I am asking whether objective morality is something like gravity operating in accordance with the laws of the universe. Are there some things that are always right and some things that are always wrong? Put another way, has there ever been a time in history where it would have been acceptable for Hitler to kill over five million Jews? Or is mass murder always wrong no matter when or where you are? If mass murder is always wrong, then it turns out that objective moral values and duties do exist.””
About This Quote
Source Lecture: Philosophy of Ethics, University of Oxford, 2019
Objective morality is argued to be like gravity—universal and independent of belief, implying some actions are always wrong.
In simple terms: Morality may be universal like gravity.
Key Takeaway
Recognize universal moral principles.
Themes
ethics
objectivity
gravity
universal
Mood
thoughtful
serious
Type
philosophical
ethical
When to use this quote
- lawmaking
- education
- personal decision making
- human rights advocacy
Key Concepts
moral realism
natural law
philosophical analogy
Questions to Reflect On
- Is there any moral exception to universal wrongs?
- How do we identify universal moral truths?
A Different Perspective
Debates exist on moral relativism; cultural contexts may differ.
