The Skeptical Subjectivist Perspective
The Skeptical Subjectivist Perspective Many Christians adopt a rigid transcendentalist view on morals. However, compared to the other views, subjectivist and objective relativist, they tend to be closed and unobservant. Paul Kurtz, author of Science and Ethics, attacks this view by demeaning the close-minded, faith-based approach on morals (p. 13). While Christians should retain their biblical, faith-based perspective, Kurtz has a point when he suggests for us to be more open to observations made in science when tackling issues on morals in our daily life. Throughout my reading, I have concluded that, as Christians, adapting a skeptical transcendentalist perspective is important because it allows an objective approach to morals, does not set “artificial limits” to arguments, and allows one to include an opponent in a loving, Christ-like manner. Securing a skeptical transcendentalist perspective is key in allowing oneself to make evidence-based assessments on ethical issues. Morals and ethical issues can be solved more peacefully by seeking evidence that may explain a transcendentalist viewpoint. When it comes to moral issues such as abortion, Christians are quick to rigidly say, “It is murder, and God says not to murder.” However, Kurtz considers this a value that is not “influenced by cognition and informed by rational inquiry and scientific evidence (p. 20).” A good example of this is found in embryonic engineering (p. 59). Christians are highly opposed to the fact that an embryo in a petri dish is not life (p. 60). They say that since conception, a zygote is life. However, according to science, it does not fit within the requirements for life (p. 62). Arthur Caplan, who was interviewed in Science and Ethics, says, “The religious view that holds that all embryos are persons, or even potential persons, does not square with the facts (p. 61).” Caplan further explains that scientific reasoning is hindered by the Christians unbending absolution on not