A Study of the Consequences of Secular Morality with Emphasis on Mackie’s Perspective

Abstract

Secular morality is perhaps one of the most important approaches in the philosophy of morality, which one of the most prominent proponents of it is John Mackie. By arguing any value as subjective, he considers moral precepts independent of God's existence. The purpose of this article is to examine and evaluate Mackie’s secular morality approach and then to show its consequences. The method of this research is a library-based theoretical analysis and argumentation, which is done by studying, examining and analysing Mackie's concepts, propositions and arguments in his works. In this article, it will be argued that considering morality rules and values as subjective, as well as assuming the atheist claim that God does not exist as true, morality will lose its meaning, rationality and comprehensiveness. Secondly, any moral practice and, consequently, morality is deprived of any rational basis. Thirdly, an atheist cannot adhere to morality throughout his life in all circumstances. Given the critiques and challenges that Mackie's theory faces, it follows that the secular morality does not provide the necessary commitment to human morality.

Keywords: secular morality, Mackie, subjectivity, moral values, atheism