Professor Simon Blackburn | Cambridge Union

Professor Simon Blackburn speaks as first opposition on Thursday 9th November 2023 at 8:00pm in the Debating Chamber.
One of humanity's oldest questions: are there any fundamental rights or wrongs? Is morality, or what we measure it by, a socially constructed process? Do we have the right to criticise those who hold morals irreconcilable to our own? This debate aims to test the link between reality and morality.
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Prof. Simon Blackburn
Professor Simon Blackburn is a former professor of philosophy specialising in meta-ethics and the philosophy of language. In 2008, he authored the Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy. Having taught philosophy at the Universities of both Oxford and Cambridge, he subscribes to a view of quasi-realism.
Thumbnail Photographer: Mark Wadey
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[@KingThallion]

I love that he is just sneaking his way back to all of rorty's positions

[@samogen300]

In current day America, as I suspect is the case in most of the World; I separate the sociopaths and the psychopaths upon interaction. Survival is the objective.

[@philipbenjamin4720]

Is torturing a child ever right? If not there must be absolute morality.
However note that the fact that we all think this isn't enough to make it absolute morality. Ten years ago we were drowning in the idea that your truth is your truth and my truth is my truth. Now not so. It's therefore clear that people's opinion - no matter how unanimous - about what is and is not absolute morality cannot be trusted.
The only foundation for absolute morality is if there is some form of morality which instead of being the invention of human beings sits OVER human beings - due to it being outside this world.
For a complete understanding of my views please see my replies to all speakers.