The Grounding of Moral Facts: Shelly Kagan and William Lane Craig

A discussion between Ethicist Shelly Kagan (Yale) and Christian apologist William Lane Craig (Theology, Biola). Kagan responds to Craig's question about why harming others is really wrong under a naturalistic world view.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• nihilism
• Christianity
• atheism
• Shelly Kagan
• William Lane Craig
• theology
• philosophy
• ethics
• morality
• God
• value
• utilitarianism
• social contract
• debate
• religion

[Kai84719]

Kagan admits that : "he is at a loss to explain morality". Kagan talks alot but of you listen to what he says, he offers no foundation at all. Kagan is a utilitarian and offers nothing after that theory.

[mavaddat]

@Kai84719 Since you say you listened carefully, can you provide the exact time where Kagan says verbatim "he is at a loss to explain morality" of himself? Or is it accurate to say you are actually lying?

Kagan does say he is at a loss to explain what is special about human's most highly refined capabilities (like calculus, poetry, orchestral music, fine art, etc.) if you don't already accept that those things are special. Is that what you are finding so difficult to grasp?

[Kai84719]

@mavaddat As I said already but I will help you again. If one watches and listens carefully to Kagan, he admits over and over that he has no sufficient grounding for his claims of morality. Kagan is a utilitarian, read his works, he is upfront about that and then read up on the many problems with this type of morality.

[mavaddat]

@Kai84719 Actually, he says exactly the opposite: He claims that morality does have a sufficient grounding in the pains and pleasures of sentient beings (including human beings).

Since you cannot even do something so basic as to support your own claim that Dr. Shelly Kagan claims verbatim, "he is at a loss to explain morality" speaking of himself in the third person, I will assume you are simply lying for Jesus.

[danplyler]

Wish we could here Bill Craig's responses and questions. Ha that been edited out or no?

[mavaddat]

@danplyler William Lane Craig did not have any more responses on this specific topic, but he did ask his own questions and give responses to other questions. I did edit those out, because they were not on this topic. The original video is linked in the beginning, but I think that's been removed. Just search YouTube for "Shelly Kagan and William Lane Craig". You'll find the whole debate.

[bonnie43uk]

I'd never heard of Shelly Kagen before, ..a very refreshing speaker.

[TheTvrulesthenation]

Jamesejudy3

Lol Kagan is a great speaker & basically the ''underground'' Peter Singer in philosophy.

I wonder if he is vegetarian or vegan, his shoes are vegan & i don't see any leather belts. He certanly talks like he is....least in the context of the question posed.

[jamesejudy3]

I can't believe that Craig even showed up to argue ethics with Kagan.

He must have some kind of death wish.

[oneznzeroz]

I think William Craig is normally on top of his game, but against Kagan he just looks like another country bumpkin creationist.

[CheekyVimto08]

shelly absolutely spanked him in this debate.