SUBJECTIVISM

An Introduction to Moral Philosophy

Subjectivism Learning

Objectives:
As emotional beings, we have this tendency to carry out actions
that would result in immediate satisfaction. There are times that
we choose whatever will make us happy regardless of its future At the end of the discussion,
consequences. Indeed, our emotions or feelings significantly you should be able to:
influence our decisions in life, including moral ones.

understand how
One metaethical theory, known as subjectivism, claims that
important freedom is in
morality is deeply emotional and personal.  An action is good if it
gives immediate satisfaction. the discussion of

morality;

explain how
48
subjectivists define the

term "good";

explain and criticize

arguments for believing

in subjectivism; and

evaluate how emotions

influence a person's

moral judgment.

Learning
Guide Questions:
materials:
Pen and Paper
What are the arguments for and against subjectivism?
How do subjectivists define "good"? Laptop and/or mobile

How important is freedom in the discussion of morality? device

How do emotions influence a person's moral judgment? Module
Moral minute
Have you ever relied on emotions to justify that your actions
are good? Share your experience.

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Subjectivism falls under
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moral relativism, which

argues that morality is always

Do you consider immediate satisfaction in decision making? relative to something.

Explain your answer.

Different from cultural

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relativism, subjectivism

claims that morality is

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relative to an individual's

feelings or emotions.
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__________________________________________________________________________________ Subjectivists claim that good

is based on whatever will give

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doer of the action.

 Good is a relative term
Subjectivism claims that morality is entirely dependent on our
emotions. Our feelings dictate whether our actions are either good
or bad. If an action gives immediate satisfaction, therefore that
action is considered good. Thus, the term “good” is a relative term
that relies on personal likes and dislikes.

Why Naruto, the subjectivist

Subjectivism? Hi! I'm Naruto, the subjectivist.

Who does not want total I've embraced subjectivism as I've come to see that morality is
freedom? deeply emotional and personal. When I say that an action is good,
I'm talking about my own feelings. My value judgments are always
Subjectivism gives us the
about how I feel.
freedom to decide on our
own and do whatever we
want to do without being
held back by our society's
norms.

As free individuals, we
should not just conform to
the standards of society. Our
feelings should serve as our
guide in dealing with moral
matters.
Against cultural
relativism Moral Freedom
Subjectivists contend that freedom is important in the discussion
Subjectivists find cultural of morality. They believe that, as rational beings, we should always
relativism repulsive. have the freedom to think for ourselves and to form our own
moral judgments whenever we deal with moral issues.
Cultural relativism denies us
the freedom to decide on
our own, as it forces us to
accept and follow all of the
societal norms.

If  the society where you

belong accepts racism, then
you have no choice but to
conform to such norm. You
would contradict yourself if
you say, "Racism is socially
approved but not good."
Subjectivists see moral freedom as part of the process of growing
up. There is no doubt that the values we have came from the
society we belong to. As children, we get values mostly through our
parents and peer groups. However, growing up requires that we
question our inherited values. As we reach adulthood, we question
the values that we’ve learned. We might accept these values, or we
might reject them, or we might partly accept them and partly reject
them. The choice is up to us.

We should always be the ones to think things out and form our
own values.
 Immediate satisfaction
To recall, subjectivists claim that "X is good" means "I like X."
Hence, the statements "I like X" and "X is good" mean the same
thing.

Dealing with
moral disputes
Some might object that there are things that we like that aren't
good. For example, one might say that "I like smoking but it isn't
Subjectivism holds that
good."
moral truths are relative to
the individual. If you like X,
In response, subjectivists differentiate immediate satisfaction and
but others do not. Then, "X
evaluating the consequences. It would be clearer to say "I like the
is good" is true for you but
immediate satisfaction that I get from smoking, but I don't like the
false for others.
consequences.

Values exist only in the

Subjectivism claims that we should only base on immediate
preferences of individual
satisfaction, not on the action's consequences. Following the
people, and no preference
previous example, smoking is good because it gives you immediate
is objectively correct or
satisfaction.
incorrect.
Morally immature Against subjectivism
Subjectivism talks about our The biggest problem of subjectivism is that it makes goodness
freedom to form our own depend completely on what we like. If we are morally immature or
moral beliefs. But it does not irresponsible, then we can justify that getting drunk and hurting
say how to use this freedom people are good.
in a responsible way.
Subjectivism says we need to I like getting drunk and hurting people.

follow our feelings. But it did Therefore, getting drunk and hurting people are good.

not say how to develop wise

feelings.

Thus, subjectivism gives us a very crude approach to morality,

whereby we simply do as we like.

Think of this

In his statements, Adolf

Hitler meant that he liked
the killing of Jews.
Following  subjectivism,
can we justify the actions of
Adolf Hitler? In addition, subjectivism leads to bizarre implications about moral
education. Following subjectivism, we would just teach children to
Explain your answer. follow their feelings, to go by their likes and dislikes.
Assessment Reference

Suppose you believe that extrajudicial killing is bad. You had a

Gensler, H. Ethics: A
conversation with your friend, and she told you that she likes
Contemporary Introdcution.
extrajudicial killings. As a subjectivist, how would you deal with
United Kingdom: Routledge,
such moral difference?
2011.
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For further readings
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Books:
Gensler, H. "Historical
In reality, do our moral judgments necessarily correspond to
Dictionary of Ethics."
our likes and dislikes? Explain your answer. 48
Gensler, Spurgin, and
Swindal. "Ethics:
Contemporary
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Readings."
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Online articles
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/e
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thics/introduction/subje
ctivism.shtml
Do you agree that the future consequences of our actions are https://www.philosophy
not important in evaluating our actions? Explain your answer. basics.com/branch_subj
ectivism.html

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