150675048

Universally
Preferable
Behaviour

A Rational Proof of

Secular Ethics

Stefan Molyneux, MA

Host, Freedomain Radio.

For my beloved wife Christina, who teaches me all that is true, and shows me everything that is possible…

I would like to thank the listeners of Freedomain Radio, whose passion, generosity and participation has made

this book – and all the books to come – possible. Thank you for the gift of this time.

Thanks also to my most excellent reviewers and proofreaders: Greg Gauthier, Jake Desyllas, Daniel Roncari and

Jason Smith.

Any errors that remain are, of course, solely my responsibility.

Freedomain Radio is one of the most popular philosophy podcasts on the Internet, and was a Top 10 Finalist in

the 2007 Podcast Awards.

Please visit Freedomain Radio atwww.f re e do mai nradi o .c om for more free podcasts, videos – as well as a thriving

message board.

Universally Preferable Behaviour: A Rational Proof of Secular Ethics, Copyright 2007 by Stefan Molyneux. All rights reserved. Printed in
the United States of America. No part of this book may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the
case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews. For more information, please visitw w w .fr e e d o m ai nr ad i o .com.

The Freedomain Library, Volume 2

Version 1.0, October 2007

- 3-

Universally Preferable Behaviour

A Rational Proof of Secular Ethics

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Foreword.............................................................................................. 7

Ground Rules................................................................................... 9

A Modest Suggestion…...................................................................... 12

Introduction....................................................................................... 13 The “Null Zone”.............................................................................. 13 The Casualties................................................................................ 15 “Middle Truths”............................................................................. 15 “Middle Truths” and Exploitation.................................................. 17 Effective Parasitism........................................................................ 18

A Framework for Ethics...................................................................... 22
Objective Truth.............................................................................. 22
Truth and Objective Reality....................................................... 23
Accuracy and Consistency.......................................................... 24
The Existence of “Truth”................................................................ 25
Empiricism versus Rationality.................................................... 26

Internal Consistency........................................................................... 27

Ethics.................................................................................................. 29 The Discipline of Theoretical Ethics............................................... 29 Self-Defeating Arguments.............................................................. 31

Preferences........................................................................................ 32
Preferences and Existence............................................................. 32
Preferences and Arguments.......................................................... 33
Preferences and Universality......................................................... 33
Arguments and Universality........................................................... 34
Premise 1: We Both Exist........................................................... 34
Premise 2: The Senses have the Capacity for Accuracy............. 34
Premise 3: Language has the Capacity for Meaning.................. 34
Premise 4: Correction Requires Universal Preferences............. 35

Premise 5: An Objective Methodology Exists For Separating Truth From Falsehood 35
Premise 6: Truth Is Better Than Falsehood................................ 35
Premise 7: Peaceful Debating is the Best Way to Resolve Disputes 35
Premise 8: Individuals are Responsible for their Actions.......... 36