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Why Sam Harris' "objective moral truth" hovers over an abyss...

Sam Harris and his book "The Moral Landscape" would never make it past the critical thinking going on at San Francisco State University.  Let x be any concept that refers. Let P stand for premise (or reason) and C stand for conclusion (in case you need to brush up on your logic lingo).  See Jime's comment here for background on Sam Harris' use of the word "objective".

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P1: Every possible meaning of x is subject to change unless there is a being to which an unchanging definition of x corresponds.

P2: If every possible meaning of x is subject to change, x lacks meaning that is not subject to change.

P3: If x lacks meaning that is not subject to change, x has no objective meaning.

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Let "GPWB" be Sam Harris' concept of objective moral truth (Greatest Possible Well Being).

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P1a: Every possible meaning of GPWB is subject to change unless there is a being to which an unchanging definition of GPWB corresponds.

P1b: Harris denies the existence of a perfectly good/well being to which GPWB corresponds.

P1c: [P1a, P1b.] Every possible meaning of GPWB is subject to change.

P2a: If every possible meaning of GPWB is subject to change, GPWB lacks meaning that is not subject to change.

P2b: [P1c, P2a.] GPWB lacks meaning that is not subject to change.

P3: If GPWB lacks meaning that is not subject to change, GPWB has no objective meaning.

C: [P2b, P3.] GPWB has no objective meaning.

Rating for Sam Harris' "The Moral Landscape":

2

, San Francisco Apologetics Examiner

Maryann is a para-educator (autism) and undergraduate student with a Certificate in Apologetics through Biola University. Send Maryann an email and visit her Modesto column and blog.

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