Today I’ll be hosting an exciting live discussion between Jeffery Jay Lowder and Wade Tisthammer on whether William Lane Craig’s moral argument (or one like it) is sound. William Lane Craig is known for giving a moral argument for God’s existence (see below). Jeff will be taking the position that it is not sound, while Wade will arguing that it is. Should be a really interesting exchange!
The discussion goes live at 3pm CST on Saturday, September 30, 2017. Here’s the link to view live (and watch later):
Click Here to View the Live Event
Jeffery Jay Lowder is the co-founder and past President of Internet Infidels, Inc., an international coalition of nontheists dedicated to promoting and defending a naturalistic worldview on the Internet. For more of Lowder’s writings, please see his author page in the Secular Web’s Modern Library.
Wade Tisthammer graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree in computer science and a minor in mathematics. He currently works as a software developer and is a philosophy student at the University of New Orleans. He blogs regularly at www.maverick-christian.org.
WLC’s Moral Argument
William Lane Craig’s version of the moral argument takes the following form:
(1) If God does not exist, objective moral values and duties do not exist.
(2) Objective moral values and duties exist.
(3) God exists.
The argument itself is logically valid. That is to say, if the premises are true, then the conclusion follows necessarily. Faulting the argument on the basis of logical invalidity is not an option.
The mp3 audio from the discussion is available below:
Refuting the objectivist position is simple: The dictionary defines “objective” as “true for reasons independent of human opinion or belief”. Which means the moral objectivist is under a rightful burden to demonstrate any action human act is objectively immoral, but without appealing to any human being’s opinion or belief. So go ahead…if you think child rape is “objectively” immoral, then demonstrate it so, without making reference to what other people have to say about it. Good luck. if the objectivist cannot fulfill this rightful burden, then they are “refuted” in the sense that they cannot even make a prima facie… Read more »