--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Normative ethics, pursued as a free…" description: "\"Normative ethics, pursued as a free, systematic, and critical attempt to find moral truth, regardless of religious and other authorities, is a rather n..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/381/torbjorn-tannsjo-12405_adventure_normative-ethics-pursued-as-a-free-syste_2032010.jpg" --- # Normative ethics, pursued as a free, systematic, and… ![“Normative ethics, pursued as a free, systematic, and critical attempt to find moral truth, regardless of religious and other authorities, is a rather new adventure. Let's wait and see what will happen!” quote by Torbjorn Tannsjo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/381/torbjorn-tannsjo-12405_adventure_normative-ethics-pursued-as-a-free-syste_2032010.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/381/torbjorn-tannsjo-12405_adventure_normative-ethics-pursued-as-a-free-syste_2032010.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/381/torbjorn-tannsjo-12405_adventure_normative-ethics-pursued-as-a-free-syste_2032010.jpg) > “Normative ethics, pursued as a free, systematic, and critical attempt to find moral truth, regardless of religious and other authorities, is a rather new adventure. Let's wait and see what will happen!” [Torbjorn Tannsjo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torbjorn-tannsjo/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Normative ethics seeks objective moral truths through systematic reasoning, independent of religious or external authority. **In simple terms:** Seek moral truth through reason. Key Takeaway Question assumptions. Themes ethics philosophy critical thinking Mood thoughtful analytical Type philosophical educational When to use this quote - academic debates - policy making - personal moral decisions Key Concepts moral realism secularism philosophical methodology Questions to Reflect On - What moral principles guide you? - How do you handle conflicting ethical frameworks? A Different Perspective May overlook cultural context and lived experience. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adventure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adventure/) [Authority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authority/) [Ethics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ethics/) [Moral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral/) [Morality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morality/) [New adventure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-adventure/) [Religious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [Being a moral realist I see normative ethics as a search of the truth about our obligations and a search of explanation; the idea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torbjorn-tannsjo/being-a-moral-realist-i-see-normative-ethics-as-a-search-of-the-truth/) [Torbjorn Tannsjo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torbjorn-tannsjo/) > [“Those of us who know not the secret of properly regulating our own existence on this tumultuous sea of foolish troubles we call life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/those-of-us-who-know-not-the-secret-of-properly-regulating-our-own/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Moral truth, resting entirely upon the ascertained consequences of actions, supposes a process of observation and reasoning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-wright/moral-truth-resting-entirely-upon-the-ascertained-consequences-of/) [Frances Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-wright/) > [Truth is congenial to man. Moral truth is then most consummate when, like beauty, it commends itself without argument. The righteous not only does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-william-newman/truth-is-congenial-to-man-moral-truth-is-then-most-consummate-when/) Francis William Newman > [As for 'Great Expectations', it is up there for me with the world's greatest novels, not least as it vindicates plot as no other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-jacobson/as-for-great-expectations-it-is-up-there-for-me-with-the-world-s/) [Howard Jacobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-jacobson/) > [“The reason many are loathe to acknowledge the possibility of absolute truth is not simply because they do not wish to accept the possibility…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mcandrew/the-reason-many-are-loathe-to-acknowledge-the-possibility-of-absolute/) [Stephen McAndrew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mcandrew/) > [For me, it all begins with faith; it begins with what matters most, and I try and put what I believe to be moral…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/for-me-it-all-begins-with-faith-it-begins-with-what-matters-most-and/) [Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/) > [Why, a moral truth is a hollow tooth Which must be propped with gold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-lee-masters/why-a-moral-truth-is-a-hollow-tooth-which-must-be-propped-with-gold/) [Edgar Lee Masters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-lee-masters/) > [Moralistic is not moral. And as for truth - well, it's like brown - it's not in the spectrum. Truth is so generic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iris-murdoch/moralistic-is-not-moral-and-as-for-truth-well-it-s-like-brown-it-s/) [Iris Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iris-murdoch/) > [The moral truth here is obvious: anyone who feels that the interests of a blastocyst just might supersede the interests of a child with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/the-moral-truth-here-is-obvious-anyone-who-feels-that-the-interests/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) > [Freedom that lacks moral truth becomes its own worst enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-weigel/freedom-that-lacks-moral-truth-becomes-its-own-worst-enemy/) [George Weigel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-weigel/) > [The doubts of an honest man contain more moral truth than the profession of faith of people under a worldly yoke.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ximenes-doudan/the-doubts-of-an-honest-man-contain-more-moral-truth-than-the/) Ximenes Doudan > [We call 'Slavery is wrong' a moral truth because there is a specific history of theoretical investigation of a particular kind of slavery. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-wilson/we-call-slavery-is-wrong-a-moral-truth-because-there-is-a-specific/) [Catherine Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-wilson/) > [Without God and religion you don't have moral truth, you have moral opinion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/without-god-and-religion-you-don-t-have-moral-truth-you-have-moral/) [Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) > [“Moral matrices bind people together and blind them to the coherence, or even existence, of other matrices. This makes it very difficult for people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-haidt/moral-matrices-bind-people-together-and-blind-them-to-the-coherence/) [Jonathan Haidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-haidt/) ## More by Torbjorn Tannsjo > [Being a moral realist I see normative ethics as a search of the truth about our obligations and a search of explanation; the idea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torbjorn-tannsjo/being-a-moral-realist-i-see-normative-ethics-as-a-search-of-the-truth/) [Torbjorn Tannsjo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torbjorn-tannsjo/) > [I do believe that what I have called populist democracy is to be preferred to what I have called elitist democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torbjorn-tannsjo/i-do-believe-that-what-i-have-called-populist-democracy-is-to-be/) [Torbjorn Tannsjo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torbjorn-tannsjo/) > [It is true that it feels very differently to enjoy a good meal, taking part in an interesting conversation, or to think of how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torbjorn-tannsjo/it-is-true-that-it-feels-very-differently-to-enjoy-a-good-meal-taking/) [Torbjorn Tannsjo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torbjorn-tannsjo/) > [It is obvious that humanity faces existential threats of a global nature. They are global in the sense that is not possible to deal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torbjorn-tannsjo/it-is-obvious-that-humanity-faces-existential-threats-of-a-global/) [Torbjorn Tannsjo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torbjorn-tannsjo/) > [To kill or not to kill, that was the question that haunted me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torbjorn-tannsjo/to-kill-or-not-to-kill-that-was-the-question-that-haunted-me/) [Torbjorn Tannsjo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torbjorn-tannsjo/) > [Are there any good arguments in defence of moral nihilism? I think not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torbjorn-tannsjo/are-there-any-good-arguments-in-defence-of-moral-nihilism-i-think-not/) [Torbjorn Tannsjo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torbjorn-tannsjo/) > [According to deontology it is wrong to kill an innocent human being, period.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torbjorn-tannsjo/according-to-deontology-it-is-wrong-to-kill-an-innocent-human-being/) [Torbjorn Tannsjo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torbjorn-tannsjo/) > [How could it be that I had a legal obligation to kill people I did not know, and who did certainly not consent to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torbjorn-tannsjo/how-could-it-be-that-i-had-a-legal-obligation-to-kill-people-i-did/) [Torbjorn Tannsjo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torbjorn-tannsjo/) > [I want to think that there are better ways of obviating murder than to resort to capital punishment, but I realise that this may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torbjorn-tannsjo/i-want-to-think-that-there-are-better-ways-of-obviating-murder-than/) [Torbjorn Tannsjo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torbjorn-tannsjo/) > [Even where people in different cultures agree they may all have gone wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torbjorn-tannsjo/even-where-people-in-different-cultures-agree-they-may-all-have-gone/) [Torbjorn Tannsjo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torbjorn-tannsjo/) > [The Chinese are generally speaking much more reluctant than Westerners to killing as a means to the rescue of lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torbjorn-tannsjo/the-chinese-are-generally-speaking-much-more-reluctant-than/) [Torbjorn Tannsjo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torbjorn-tannsjo/) > [I am indeed a hedonistic utilitarian. I have defended hedonistic utilitarianism for quite a while.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torbjorn-tannsjo/i-am-indeed-a-hedonistic-utilitarian-i-have-defended-hedonistic/) [Torbjorn Tannsjo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torbjorn-tannsjo/) > [What we need is legislation, not negotiation, for the entire globe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torbjorn-tannsjo/what-we-need-is-legislation-not-negotiation-for-the-entire-globe/) [Torbjorn Tannsjo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torbjorn-tannsjo/) > [There comes a time where next to everyone will resort to techniques that enhance cognitive, mental including emotive, physical, and other capacities. When this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torbjorn-tannsjo/there-comes-a-time-where-next-to-everyone-will-resort-to-techniques/) [Torbjorn Tannsjo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torbjorn-tannsjo/) > [I believe that one basic question, what we ought to do, period (the moral question), is a genuine one. There exists a true answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torbjorn-tannsjo/i-believe-that-one-basic-question-what-we-ought-to-do-period-the/) [Torbjorn Tannsjo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torbjorn-tannsjo/) [Explore all 55 Torbjorn Tannsjo quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torbjorn-tannsjo/) ## More Adventure quotes > [I'm trying to write a film with my friend. I'd love to get the thrill of speaking actors making my work even funnier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/i-m-trying-to-write-a-film-with-my-friend-i-d-love-to-get-the-thrill/) [Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/) > [I painted the words "GREAT ADVENTURE" in Beijing, Dallas, San Francisco, Copenhagen, and Japan. What it means to me is completely different to everybody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-eine/i-painted-the-words-great-adventure-in-beijing-dallas-san-francisco/) [Ben Eine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-eine/) > [I've used the Phoenix Centrifuge to replicate what the body's going to go through on the flight up. I've also done some gravity tests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-ve-used-the-phoenix-centrifuge-to-replicate-what-the-body-s-going/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [I have lifted my plane . . . for perhaps a thousand flights and I have never felt her wheels glide from the Earth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beryl-markham/i-have-lifted-my-plane-for-perhaps-a-thousand-flights-and-i-have/) [Beryl Markham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beryl-markham/) > [I am attracted to looking at the different things language can mean even in one sometimes quite ordinary utterance. Writing is partly about listening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rae-armantrout/i-am-attracted-to-looking-at-the-different-things-language-can-mean/) [Rae Armantrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rae-armantrout/) > [What a thrill. You know you've entered new territory when you realise that your outfit cost more than your film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-yu/what-a-thrill-you-know-you-ve-entered-new-territory-when-you-realise/) Jessica Yu > [“So many people live within unhappy circumstances and yet will not take the initiative to change their situation because they are conditioned by a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-supertramp-chris-mccandless/so-many-people-live-within-unhappy-circumstances-and-yet-will-not/) Alexander Supertramp Chris McCandless > [A common fallacy in much of the adverse criticism to which science is subjected today is that it claims certainty, infallibility and complete emotional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyril-norman-hinshelwood/a-common-fallacy-in-much-of-the-adverse-criticism-to-which-science-is/) [Cyril Norman Hinshelwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyril-norman-hinshelwood/) > [“Exactly. I think the original tantric Buddhists took notice of was some very wise old people who never studied in their youth, but took…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-niemczura/exactly-i-think-the-original-tantric-buddhists-took-notice-of-was/) [Joe Niemczura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-niemczura/) > [As an adventurer...I try to protect against the downside. I make sure I have covered as many eventualities as I can. In the end,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/as-an-adventurer-i-try-to-protect-against-the-downside-i-make-sure-i/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [“Love can give you such happiness, then can break the very heart it filled, leaving a hole that can never be fixed or protected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-mcleod/love-can-give-you-such-happiness-then-can-break-the-very-heart-it/) Kevin McLeod > [“It always gave Wolf a peculiar thrill thus to tighten his grip upon his stick, thus to wrap himself more closely in his faded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cowper-powys/it-always-gave-wolf-a-peculiar-thrill-thus-to-tighten-his-grip-upon/) [John Cowper Powys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cowper-powys/) > [“It all had to be squeezed and squeezed again, to provide a thrill, to provide enjoyment. What did people mean, with their simply determined…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-h-lawrence-2/it-all-had-to-be-squeezed-and-squeezed-again-to-provide-a-thrill-to/) [D.H. Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-h-lawrence-2/) > [I am not an adventurous person but I am gutsy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahul-vaidya/i-am-not-an-adventurous-person-but-i-am-gutsy/) [Rahul Vaidya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahul-vaidya/) > [Our civilization, bequeathed to us by fierce adventurers, eaters of meat and hunters, is so full of hurry and combat, so busy about many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/our-civilization-bequeathed-to-us-by-fierce-adventurers-eaters-of/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) [Browse all 7,690 Adventure quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adventure/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Normative ethics, pursued as a free, systematic, and critical attempt to find moral truth, regardless of religious and other authorities, is a rather new adventure. 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