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I know that just because some action or state of affairs is morally right, that does not mean it will actually happen. So, does that mean morality is counterfactual in nature? Or am I misunderstanding something?

User Tigerware
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Final answer:

Morality is reflective of how people ought to behave but does not always correspond to the actual state of affairs. Utilitarianism, religious perspectives, and philosophical views like those of Hume and proponents of telos provide various frameworks for understanding morality, each with questions regarding free will and moral responsibility.

Step-by-step explanation:

Morality is not necessarily counterfactual; rather, it reflects ideals on how we ought to behave, which may not always align with actual outcomes. In utilitarianism, for instance, morality is determined by the consequences of actions, with intent and character playing no significant role. An individual could have good intentions yet still be morally at fault for unintended harmful consequences.

Religious perspectives often tie morality to divine will. For example, some Christian beliefs posit that only through divine intervention can people align with moral goodness; this presents the idea that God's sovereignty defines morality, suggesting without it, we may still understand right and wrong independently.

Philosophers like Hume assert that morality is built on sentiments rather than facts, thus challenging the idea of deriving 'ought' from 'is'. Others propose that objective moral reasoning can stem from goals or telos, implying that fulfilling a specific purpose can define an action's moral value. The notion of determinism also plays a role, suggesting that if our actions are predetermined, moral responsibility could be questioned. Nonetheless, the role of free will in ethical theories remains a subject of debate.

User Wheresmycookie
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