Hume's is/ought problem? (L3 - Is Ought Problem - Hume) video notes

Introduction to the Is-Ought Problem

  • The video tutorial addresses David Hume's Is-Ought Problem, also known as Hume's Law, Gap, or Guillotine.

  • The objective for students by the end of the lesson: to describe, understand, and apply Hume's Is-Ought Problem with specific examples related to its impact on:

    • Utilitarianism

    • Natural Moral Law

Hume’s Observations on Moral Arguments

  • Scottish Enlightenment philosopher David Hume analyzed moral arguments in his work "A Treatise of Human Nature."

  • Key observation: Many moral theorists begin their discussions by stating facts (what is the case) but then transition to normative claims (what ought to be).

    • Hume argued this transition constitutes a logical error.

  • Central claim: Just because something exists a certain way does not mean it ought to exist that way; this idea encapsulates Hume’s Is-Ought Problem.

The Gap Between Facts and Values

  • Hume asserts there is a significant logical gap between:

    • Descriptive statements (facts about the world)

    • Prescriptive statements (what we ought to do)

  • Example illustrating this point:

    • Stephen Law's aliens observe a mugging:

    • Facts observed: An object is taken from one human by another; the victim is angry; the thief flees.

    • Human companions add moral value: "What they saw was wrong."

    • Aliens may question where this concept of "wrongness" came from since it was not observable as a fact.

    • Conclusion: Wrongness embeds a value judgment rather than an observable fact.

Analysis of Logical Structure in Arguments

  • Hume illustrates the distinction between arguments presenting facts versus values:

    • Example of Valid Argument:

    • Premises consist of factual claims.

    • Logical conclusion follows from these premises.

    • Example of Invalid Argument:

    • Conclusion states a value, leading to an unsupported transition.

    • Example: "Stealing is illegal. Therefore, we ought not to steal."

      • Legal status (a fact) does not inherently imply moral obligation (an ought).

The Necessity of Additional Premises

  • To construct logical and valid arguments based on facts and derive a value:

    • An additional premise that provides moral justification must be included.

    • Example premise: "You ought to act legally."

  • The nature of this premise is inherently a value, indicating:

    • The conclusion (an ought) remains unsupported by just facts alone;

    • Value premises are necessary to bridge the is-ought gap.

The Illogicality of Everyday Arguments

  • Daily exchanges often employ the is-ought structure incorrectly:

    • Example: "There are people starving in the world; you should finish your Brussels sprouts!"

    • Logical Error: The hidden premise reflects a value (e.g., “You shouldn't waste food”) not inherently included in observable facts.

    • Hume's conclusion: Without acknowledging these hidden premises, the argument fails logically.

Tasks to Clarify Understanding

  • Students are encouraged to identify hidden premises in given arguments that use the is-ought structure.

  • Purpose: Distinguish between facts and values and comprehend Hume's assertion that values cannot emerge from pure facts alone.

Impact on Meta-Ethics and Moral Theories

  • Meta-ethical theories impacted by Hume's Is-Ought Problem include:

    • Naturalism: Claims moral truths can be based on observable facts.

  • Application to two notable theories:

    • Utilitarianism:

    • Proposes: "What is good is pleasure; what is bad is pain."

    • Grounds value judgments on a posteriori (observed) facts.

    • Hume critiques: Just because people pursue pleasure does not justify the claim that pleasure is inherently good.

      • Logical jump from fact to value is unsubstantiated.

    • Natural Moral Law:

    • Claims: Morally good actions align with fulfilling a god-given purpose (telos).

    • Position uses observable functions of human existence to derive moral obligations (e.g., procreation).

      • Hume counters: The existence of a function does not necessitate that it is morally obligatory to fulfill it.

Hume's Critiques of Theistic Responses

  • Possible response of Natural Moral Law theorists to Hume:

    • Divine command as justification for morality.

    • Is a God exists, and his commands dictate morality, allowing for the derivation of ought from is (e.g., fulfilling a divine function).

  • Issues with this response:

    • The existence of God is highly contentious and not universally accepted.

    • Even if a deity exists, how does this support deriving moral values from mere facts?

    • Example critique: If we claim reproduction is a divine function, we might uncover a hidden assumption: "We should fulfill such functions." This is a value, not a fact.

  • Reflection needed: What actual significance does the observation that something is God-given have if it does not allow for values to be derived from facts?

Conclusion: Engaging with Hume’s Thoughts

  • Students are invited to consider if they believe a way exists to bridge the gap between is and ought, and how Utilitarianism and Natural Moral Law could be defended against Hume's critiques.

  • The conversation invites further reflection and dialogue among peers regarding the foundations of moral values and their derivation from observable facts.