The Self-Esteem Argument

Some More Notes

The scope of the notes

The scope of this version of the notes is to nail down the argument for Moral Relativism
from Self-Esteem. The following is the relevant passage from Kreeft’s essay.

Turned into argument, it looks like this: Good morality has good
consequences, bad morality has bad consequences. Feelings of unhappiness
and guilt are bad consequences, while feelings of happiness and self-esteem
are good consequences. Moral absolutism produces the bad feelings of guilt
and unhappiness, while moral relativism produces the good feelings of self-
esteem and happiness. Therefore, moral absolutism is bad, and moral
relativism is good.

Now, we are asked in the homework assignment to number the premises and
conclusion. With this, we get the following:

The Argument from Self-Esteem

1. Good morality has good consequences; bad morality has bad consequences.
2. Feelings of unhappiness and guilt are bad consequences, while feelings of
happiness and self-esteem are good consequences.
3. Moral absolutism produces the bad feelings of guilt and unhappiness, while
moral relativism produces the good feelings of self-esteem and happiness.
4. Therefore, moral absolutism is bad, and moral relativism is good.

We can, now, simplify the argument a bit and make it our own. The following is what I
have in mind:

The Revised Argument form Self-Esteem

1. A good moral theory makes us happy, while a bad one makes us unhappy.
2. Moral absolutism makes us unhappy, while moral relativism makes us
happy.
3. Thus, moral absolutism is a bad moral theory, and moral relativism is a good
one.

This, I think, gives us a benevolent argument for moral relativism. Let's see how.
Imagine one asks, "Why should I become a moral relativist and not a moral absolutist?
A plausible answer is the former will make you happy while the latter will not. Boom! I
want to be happy. Thus, we should become a moral relativist.

Well, this is the statement of the argument from self-esteem. Do you find any problems
with it? Or, should we become moral relativists.
The Problem with P2
The problem, as you may see, is there is no argument for P2. We just have to agree
with the claim that relativism will make us happy. However, it may be the case that both
theories make us happy or that absolutism wins the day. The premise is questionable;
thus, an argument is needed to establish it. In this regard, the argument is lacking.