The Nature of Our Values | Markus Gabriel | TEDxBerlinSalon

I’m a very easy guy so my talk has three

I’m a very easy guy so my talk has three parts a beginning middle and an end in

parts a beginning middle and an end in

parts a beginning middle and an end in the beginning I will tell you what

the beginning I will tell you what

the beginning I will tell you what democracy is

democracy is

democracy is and why democracy as I will use that

and why democracy as I will use that

and why democracy as I will use that word it’s grounded in a certain set of

word it’s grounded in a certain set of

word it’s grounded in a certain set of values there are three of them I will

values there are three of them I will

values there are three of them I will also tell you that three villains in my

also tell you that three villains in my

also tell you that three villains in my story they are not Putin a gun and other

story they are not Putin a gun and other

story they are not Putin a gun and other people

people

people Trump they’re different villains

Trump they’re different villains

Trump they’re different villains somewhat more dangerous villains that’s

somewhat more dangerous villains that’s

somewhat more dangerous villains that’s gonna go down in the second part and I

gonna go down in the second part and I

gonna go down in the second part and I will try to create a kind of immune

will try to create a kind of immune

will try to create a kind of immune system against this particular threat

system against this particular threat

system against this particular threat against democracy a threat which is a

against democracy a threat which is a

against democracy a threat which is a threat to our very own minds and to the

threat to our very own minds and to the

threat to our very own minds and to the human being as such and I will conclude

human being as such and I will conclude

human being as such and I will conclude with a brief defense of the political

with a brief defense of the political

with a brief defense of the political system I call Co immune ISM no it’s not

system I call Co immune ISM no it’s not

system I call Co immune ISM no it’s not communism it’s Co immune ISM Co immune

communism it’s Co immune ISM Co immune

communism it’s Co immune ISM Co immune ism is democracy grounded in an

ism is democracy grounded in an

ism is democracy grounded in an unquestioned assumption of human rights

unquestioned assumption of human rights

unquestioned assumption of human rights but we need to work our way to that view

but we need to work our way to that view

but we need to work our way to that view too Co immune is my otherwise it sounds

too Co immune is my otherwise it sounds

too Co immune is my otherwise it sounds too much like communism so part 1 the

too much like communism so part 1 the

too much like communism so part 1 the beginning what is democracy so as I said

beginning what is democracy so as I said

beginning what is democracy so as I said I used the word democracy in a certain

I used the word democracy in a certain

I used the word democracy in a certain way the word democracy has many many

way the word democracy has many many

way the word democracy has many many meanings it picks out a form of

meanings it picks out a form of

meanings it picks out a form of government it refers to a kind of

government it refers to a kind of

government it refers to a kind of administration to a system of

administration to a system of

administration to a system of information processing on a bureaucratic

information processing on a bureaucratic

information processing on a bureaucratic level to a representation of the

level to a representation of the

level to a representation of the people’s will etc so the term democracy

people’s will etc so the term democracy

people’s will etc so the term democracy means many things what I have in mind

means many things what I have in mind

means many things what I have in mind when I talk about democracy as a value

when I talk about democracy as a value

when I talk about democracy as a value something which is intrinsically

something which is intrinsically

something which is intrinsically valuable I refer to really three pillars

valuable I refer to really three pillars

valuable I refer to really three pillars and the three pillars are number one

and the three pillars are number one

and the three pillars are number one human rights number two freedom and

human rights number two freedom and

human rights number two freedom and number three equality so I will talk

number three equality so I will talk

number three equality so I will talk about human rights freedom and equality

about human rights freedom and equality

about human rights freedom and equality and I will defend them and now my three

and I will defend them and now my three

and I will defend them and now my three villains enter the stage okay so they

villains enter the stage okay so they

villains enter the stage okay so they say this all sounds very nice and maybe

say this all sounds very nice and maybe

say this all sounds very nice and maybe democracy is a kind of value system and

democracy is a kind of value system and

democracy is a kind of value system and not just an administration or form of

not just an administration or form of

not just an administration or form of government

government

government maybe there’s something deeper going on

maybe there’s something deeper going on

maybe there’s something deeper going on a democracy but wait a minute okay

a democracy but wait a minute okay

a democracy but wait a minute okay villain number one pessimism says human

villain number one pessimism says human

villain number one pessimism says human life is so

life is so

life is so complicated that we will always wind up

complicated that we will always wind up

complicated that we will always wind up with dictatorship and something which

with dictatorship and something which

with dictatorship and something which goes against democracy democracy has no

goes against democracy democracy has no

goes against democracy democracy has no survival chance this is what the

survival chance this is what the

survival chance this is what the pessimist says then we have my second

pessimist says then we have my second

pessimist says then we have my second villain the relativist the relativist

villain the relativist the relativist

villain the relativist the relativist says something like this well you’re

says something like this well you’re

says something like this well you’re talking about democracy and human rights

talking about democracy and human rights

talking about democracy and human rights here but really you’re just defending

here but really you’re just defending

here but really you’re just defending Western hegemony or imperial standards

Western hegemony or imperial standards

Western hegemony or imperial standards there are no universal human rights

there are no universal human rights

there are no universal human rights there is no meaningful concept of

there is no meaningful concept of

there is no meaningful concept of justice equality and freedom all there

justice equality and freedom all there

justice equality and freedom all there is a local decisions to behave in a

is a local decisions to behave in a

is a local decisions to behave in a certain way right so the Russians do

certain way right so the Russians do

certain way right so the Russians do their thing the Chinese do their thing

their thing the Chinese do their thing

their thing the Chinese do their thing and maybe the Europeans whoever they are

and maybe the Europeans whoever they are

and maybe the Europeans whoever they are to some other thing right and the

to some other thing right and the

to some other thing right and the Americans they do their thing and

Americans they do their thing and

Americans they do their thing and they’re also exceptional etc so that’s

they’re also exceptional etc so that’s

they’re also exceptional etc so that’s the relativist there are really no

the relativist there are really no

the relativist there are really no universal values and whoever believes

universal values and whoever believes

universal values and whoever believes that their universal values has a will

that their universal values has a will

that their universal values has a will to power wants to dominate some other

to power wants to dominate some other

to power wants to dominate some other group that’s the relativist and finally

group that’s the relativist and finally

group that’s the relativist and finally the worst enemy but also the easiest to

the worst enemy but also the easiest to

the worst enemy but also the easiest to defeat the nihilist

defeat the nihilist

defeat the nihilist what does the nihilist say well the

what does the nihilist say well the

what does the nihilist say well the nihilist believes that fundamentally

nihilist believes that fundamentally

nihilist believes that fundamentally there are no values not even local ones

there are no values not even local ones

there are no values not even local ones okay there are no Russian values no

okay there are no Russian values no

okay there are no Russian values no Chinese values no German values zero

Chinese values no German values zero

Chinese values no German values zero values okay so that’s the nihilist and

values okay so that’s the nihilist and

values okay so that’s the nihilist and you see my villains get gradually worse

you see my villains get gradually worse

you see my villains get gradually worse the pessimist kind of still has some

the pessimist kind of still has some

the pessimist kind of still has some kind of hope but is in despair the

kind of hope but is in despair the

kind of hope but is in despair the relativist wants to use us in his own

relativist wants to use us in his own

relativist wants to use us in his own interest think of the Putin interviews

interest think of the Putin interviews

interest think of the Putin interviews for instance that’s a nice case of

for instance that’s a nice case of

for instance that’s a nice case of relativism and the nihilist wants to say

relativism and the nihilist wants to say

relativism and the nihilist wants to say forget about all of this this is just a

forget about all of this this is just a

forget about all of this this is just a ridiculous meaningless show okay it’s a

ridiculous meaningless show okay it’s a

ridiculous meaningless show okay it’s a show about nothing let’s get started so

show about nothing let’s get started so

show about nothing let’s get started so we need to meet our villains on their

we need to meet our villains on their

we need to meet our villains on their own ground let’s build up our immune

own ground let’s build up our immune

own ground let’s build up our immune system part number to the middle okay

system part number to the middle okay

system part number to the middle okay that was the opening now we come to the

that was the opening now we come to the

that was the opening now we come to the middle PR and those are my enemies it

middle PR and those are my enemies it

middle PR and those are my enemies it does not stand for the People’s Republic

does not stand for the People’s Republic

does not stand for the People’s Republic of North Korea though okay

of North Korea though okay

of North Korea though okay PR and let’s start with number one

PR and let’s start with number one

PR and let’s start with number one pessimism so why would anyone be a

pessimism so why would anyone be a

pessimism so why would anyone be a pessimist so here’s an idea that

pessimist so here’s an idea that

pessimist so here’s an idea that motivates pessimism in many people’s

motivates pessimism in many people’s

motivates pessimism in many people’s minds including my own one so I know the

minds including my own one so I know the

minds including my own one so I know the temptation here’s how pessimism

temptation here’s how pessimism

temptation here’s how pessimism there’s widespread moral social and

there’s widespread moral social and

there’s widespread moral social and political disagreement in any community

political disagreement in any community

political disagreement in any community you know pretty much everybody else

you know pretty much everybody else

you know pretty much everybody else agrees with everybody else on pretty

agrees with everybody else on pretty

agrees with everybody else on pretty much everything when it comes to moral

much everything when it comes to moral

much everything when it comes to moral social and political issues and this

social and political issues and this

social and political issues and this also holds about yourself you disagree

also holds about yourself you disagree

also holds about yourself you disagree with your former self you disagree with

with your former self you disagree with

with your former self you disagree with your future self so there’s basically

your future self so there’s basically

your future self so there’s basically only disagreement about say abortion

only disagreement about say abortion

only disagreement about say abortion same-sex marriage the best form of

same-sex marriage the best form of

same-sex marriage the best form of government vegetarianism feminism etc

government vegetarianism feminism etc

government vegetarianism feminism etc people talk about these things and

people talk about these things and

people talk about these things and they’re in widespread disagreement now

they’re in widespread disagreement now

they’re in widespread disagreement now doesn’t this make it unlikely that there

doesn’t this make it unlikely that there

doesn’t this make it unlikely that there are universal values and even if there

are universal values and even if there

are universal values and even if there were universal values or moral truth

were universal values or moral truth

were universal values or moral truth that could ground our insistence and

that could ground our insistence and

that could ground our insistence and commitment to human rights even if there

commitment to human rights even if there

commitment to human rights even if there were such truth we could never know what

were such truth we could never know what

were such truth we could never know what they are because there’s too much

they are because there’s too much

they are because there’s too much disagreement about among humans will

disagreement about among humans will

disagreement about among humans will never sort us out this is what the

never sort us out this is what the

never sort us out this is what the pessimist says okay but now let’s take a

pessimist says okay but now let’s take a

pessimist says okay but now let’s take a closer look at that position and start

closer look at that position and start

closer look at that position and start from a very different angle is there

from a very different angle is there

from a very different angle is there really so much moral disagreement among

really so much moral disagreement among

really so much moral disagreement among humans as the pessimist typically

humans as the pessimist typically

humans as the pessimist typically imagines it I gather that this is false

imagines it I gather that this is false

imagines it I gather that this is false and here’s why think about the opposite

and here’s why think about the opposite

and here’s why think about the opposite case I think we all agree obviously

case I think we all agree obviously

case I think we all agree obviously including all Chinese citizens or

including all Chinese citizens or

including all Chinese citizens or Russian citizens etc fundamentally agree

Russian citizens etc fundamentally agree

Russian citizens etc fundamentally agree that we should not torture children just

that we should not torture children just

that we should not torture children just for fun we’ve probably also agreed that

for fun we’ve probably also agreed that

for fun we’ve probably also agreed that we shouldn’t torture sentient creatures

we shouldn’t torture sentient creatures

we shouldn’t torture sentient creatures just for fun we also agree that we

just for fun we also agree that we

just for fun we also agree that we shouldn’t walk around our cities and

shouldn’t walk around our cities and

shouldn’t walk around our cities and just hit people in the face for no

just hit people in the face for no

just hit people in the face for no reason okay we also agree that civil war

reason okay we also agree that civil war

reason okay we also agree that civil war is worse than peace even if someone

is worse than peace even if someone

is worse than peace even if someone profits from civil war say war load the

profits from civil war say war load the

profits from civil war say war load the wallet knows that something’s wrong it’s

wallet knows that something’s wrong it’s

wallet knows that something’s wrong it’s civil war so if you know what the word

civil war so if you know what the word

civil war so if you know what the word civil war means or if you know what the

civil war means or if you know what the

civil war means or if you know what the word torture means or what the word rape

word torture means or what the word rape

word torture means or what the word rape mean if you know what these words mean

mean if you know what these words mean

mean if you know what these words mean then you know that they do not

then you know that they do not

then you know that they do not characterize something that is good okay

characterize something that is good okay

characterize something that is good okay so this is fundamental agreement among

so this is fundamental agreement among

so this is fundamental agreement among all humans also there couldn’t be any

all humans also there couldn’t be any

all humans also there couldn’t be any kind of disagreement without fundamental

kind of disagreement without fundamental

kind of disagreement without fundamental agreement here

agreement here

agreement here very simple argument from a different

very simple argument from a different

very simple argument from a different context right so imagine we disagree

context right so imagine we disagree

context right so imagine we disagree about all sorts of things in order to

about all sorts of things in order to

about all sorts of things in order to disagree so that I can say something and

disagree so that I can say something and

disagree so that I can say something and you say the opposite in order to

you say the opposite in order to

you say the opposite in order to disagree we have to speak for instance

disagree we have to speak for instance

disagree we have to speak for instance the same language you tell me something

the same language you tell me something

the same language you tell me something that I can understand and I communicate

that I can understand and I communicate

that I can understand and I communicate back so we agree for instance on the

back so we agree for instance on the

back so we agree for instance on the fact that we exist that we can speak

fact that we exist that we can speak

fact that we exist that we can speak that we communicate that I have 10

that we communicate that I have 10

that we communicate that I have 10 fingers etc so for any disagreement

fingers etc so for any disagreement

fingers etc so for any disagreement there’s going to be a higher amount of

there’s going to be a higher amount of

there’s going to be a higher amount of agreement in the world okay you can even

agreement in the world okay you can even

agreement in the world okay you can even show this mathematically as it were in

show this mathematically as it were in

show this mathematically as it were in philosophy we call this the principle of

philosophy we call this the principle of

philosophy we call this the principle of charity it’s impossible to imagine

charity it’s impossible to imagine

charity it’s impossible to imagine disagreement without a wider set of

disagreement without a wider set of

disagreement without a wider set of agreement okay it’s a wonderful

agreement okay it’s a wonderful

agreement okay it’s a wonderful philosophical insight that you have to

philosophical insight that you have to

philosophical insight that you have to bear in mind also in the moral case no

bear in mind also in the moral case no

bear in mind also in the moral case no moral disagreement without moral

moral disagreement without moral

moral disagreement without moral agreement right trivially imagine i

agreement right trivially imagine i

agreement right trivially imagine i morally disagree with you on a

morally disagree with you on a

morally disagree with you on a particular kind of issue so i’m for

particular kind of issue so i’m for

particular kind of issue so i’m for same-sex marriage and i just celebrated

same-sex marriage and i just celebrated

same-sex marriage and i just celebrated what went down in germany and then I

what went down in germany and then I

what went down in germany and then I meet someone probably no one from this

meet someone probably no one from this

meet someone probably no one from this room I don’t know but I meet someone on

room I don’t know but I meet someone on

room I don’t know but I meet someone on the streets of Berlin and he says well

the streets of Berlin and he says well

the streets of Berlin and he says well I’m all against a terrible ok so I meet

I’m all against a terrible ok so I meet

I’m all against a terrible ok so I meet like a homophobe falsely I never meet

like a homophobe falsely I never meet

like a homophobe falsely I never meet them but I’m also not looking for them

them but I’m also not looking for them

them but I’m also not looking for them so but imagine I meet this homophobic

so but imagine I meet this homophobic

so but imagine I meet this homophobic person and I get into a fistfight right

person and I get into a fistfight right

person and I get into a fistfight right I mean that’s not disagreement that’s a

I mean that’s not disagreement that’s a

I mean that’s not disagreement that’s a fist fight so as long as I disagree with

fist fight so as long as I disagree with

fist fight so as long as I disagree with the homophobe there’s room for an

the homophobe there’s room for an

the homophobe there’s room for an exchange of arguments and therefore

exchange of arguments and therefore

exchange of arguments and therefore moral agreement then we both agree that

moral agreement then we both agree that

moral agreement then we both agree that fistfights are bad and that’s a good

fistfights are bad and that’s a good

fistfights are bad and that’s a good starting point right build it up from

starting point right build it up from

starting point right build it up from there I think it’s not that hard to go

there I think it’s not that hard to go

there I think it’s not that hard to go from fist fights a bad to homophobia is

from fist fights a bad to homophobia is

from fist fights a bad to homophobia is bad for certain people homosexuals and

bad for certain people homosexuals and

bad for certain people homosexuals and also me I find us generally repulsive ok

also me I find us generally repulsive ok

also me I find us generally repulsive ok so it’s bad for humanity and it’s pretty

so it’s bad for humanity and it’s pretty

so it’s bad for humanity and it’s pretty much like fist fighting ok homophobia

much like fist fighting ok homophobia

much like fist fighting ok homophobia looks a little less violent from the

looks a little less violent from the

looks a little less violent from the outset then fist fighting but it’s

outset then fist fighting but it’s

outset then fist fighting but it’s really not it’s a very violent thing so

really not it’s a very violent thing so

really not it’s a very violent thing so we can build up from there so the

we can build up from there so the

we can build up from there so the pessimist is fundamentally defeated

pessimist is fundamentally defeated

pessimist is fundamentally defeated because the pessimist cannot generalize

because the pessimist cannot generalize

because the pessimist cannot generalize on the basis of local moral disagreement

on the basis of local moral disagreement

on the basis of local moral disagreement to fundamental disagreement among humans

to fundamental disagreement among humans

to fundamental disagreement among humans also this has never been done there’s

also this has never been done there’s

also this has never been done there’s always been in the history in the entire

always been in the history in the entire

always been in the history in the entire history of ideas there’s always been the

history of ideas there’s always been the

history of ideas there’s always been the claim that

claim that

claim that people who live elsewhere in different

people who live elsewhere in different

people who live elsewhere in different cultures as we say are probably very

cultures as we say are probably very

cultures as we say are probably very different from us I mean look what they

different from us I mean look what they

different from us I mean look what they do over there I mean every single

do over there I mean every single

do over there I mean every single culture and every single local group

culture and every single local group

culture and every single local group actually believes that look what they do

actually believes that look what they do

actually believes that look what they do over there I mean that’s what we believe

over there I mean that’s what we believe

over there I mean that’s what we believe in born about Berlin right and and well

in born about Berlin right and and well

in born about Berlin right and and well unfortunately I think Berliners stopped

unfortunately I think Berliners stopped

unfortunately I think Berliners stopped caring about us but we still kind of

caring about us but we still kind of

caring about us but we still kind of care we still feel insulted that the

care we still feel insulted that the

care we still feel insulted that the government moved here okay but be that

government moved here okay but be that

government moved here okay but be that as it may we always have the fantasy

as it may we always have the fantasy

as it may we always have the fantasy that the others are super different but

that the others are super different but

that the others are super different but they’re really not because they’re human

they’re really not because they’re human

they’re really not because they’re human beings

beings

beings okay so moral disagreement rests on

okay so moral disagreement rests on

okay so moral disagreement rests on moral agreement the pessimist is

moral agreement the pessimist is

moral agreement the pessimist is defeated fundamentally now enter the

defeated fundamentally now enter the

defeated fundamentally now enter the relativist what do we do against the

relativist what do we do against the

relativist what do we do against the relativist the relativist says to quote

relativist the relativist says to quote

relativist the relativist says to quote Frank Underwood the president from house

Frank Underwood the president from house

Frank Underwood the president from house of cards one of the best TV shows right

of cards one of the best TV shows right

of cards one of the best TV shows right there out there on the market right now

there out there on the market right now

there out there on the market right now so to quote Frank Underwood sorry

so to quote Frank Underwood sorry

so to quote Frank Underwood sorry spoiler alert there is no justice only

spoiler alert there is no justice only

spoiler alert there is no justice only conquest this is what the relativist

conquest this is what the relativist

conquest this is what the relativist says there is no justice only conquest

says there is no justice only conquest

says there is no justice only conquest there are no moral values there are no

there are no moral values there are no

there are no moral values there are no human rights there are only strategies

human rights there are only strategies

human rights there are only strategies that make it look that pretend as if

that make it look that pretend as if

that make it look that pretend as if there were human rights so when the

there were human rights so when the

there were human rights so when the United Nations declared the Universal

United Nations declared the Universal

United Nations declared the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948 this

Declaration of Human Rights in 1948 this

Declaration of Human Rights in 1948 this was an imperialist strategy okay it

was an imperialist strategy okay it

was an imperialist strategy okay it doesn’t look like that they say all

doesn’t look like that they say all

doesn’t look like that they say all human beings are born equal and free etc

human beings are born equal and free etc

human beings are born equal and free etc they don’t specify they don’t say this

they don’t specify they don’t say this

they don’t specify they don’t say this is for Americans right or for Europeans

is for Americans right or for Europeans

is for Americans right or for Europeans they speak about everyone but really

they speak about everyone but really

they speak about everyone but really what they mean is it’s good far as

what they mean is it’s good far as

what they mean is it’s good far as everyone subscribes to this okay then we

everyone subscribes to this okay then we

everyone subscribes to this okay then we can sell whatever diet coke to Africa

can sell whatever diet coke to Africa

can sell whatever diet coke to Africa that’s that’s the idea okay of the

that’s that’s the idea okay of the

that’s that’s the idea okay of the relativist they’re really they really

relativist they’re really they really

relativist they’re really they really have an agenda arguably the counter

have an agenda arguably the counter

have an agenda arguably the counter declaration has an agenda so the that’s

declaration has an agenda so the that’s

declaration has an agenda so the that’s a little bit difficult so that we know

a little bit difficult so that we know

a little bit difficult so that we know there are many declarations of human

there are many declarations of human

there are many declarations of human rights however say the Cairo declaration

rights however say the Cairo declaration

rights however say the Cairo declaration for instance of you know universal human

for instance of you know universal human

for instance of you know universal human rights also has some universal human

rights also has some universal human

rights also has some universal human rights in there okay it’s never fully

rights in there okay it’s never fully

rights in there okay it’s never fully local wherever you have the notion of a

local wherever you have the notion of a

local wherever you have the notion of a human right which by the way you will

human right which by the way you will

human right which by the way you will also already find an ancient Chinese

also already find an ancient Chinese

also already find an ancient Chinese philosophy and of course in India etc

philosophy and of course in India etc

philosophy and of course in India etc this

this

this by itself is already universal wherever

by itself is already universal wherever

by itself is already universal wherever you have the notion of the human being

you have the notion of the human being

you have the notion of the human being you have the notion of universal moral

you have the notion of universal moral

you have the notion of universal moral rights inviolable human dignity etc that

rights inviolable human dignity etc that

rights inviolable human dignity etc that is extremely widespread okay so the

is extremely widespread okay so the

is extremely widespread okay so the relativist again tells us something

relativist again tells us something

relativist again tells us something that’s not the case when I say I want to

that’s not the case when I say I want to

that’s not the case when I say I want to help you I really have a strategy I

help you I really have a strategy I

help you I really have a strategy I don’t want to help you so the relativist

don’t want to help you so the relativist

don’t want to help you so the relativist wants to reject kindness and create new

wants to reject kindness and create new

wants to reject kindness and create new borders that’s what the relative

borders that’s what the relative

borders that’s what the relative relativist wants to do Donald Trump is a

relativist wants to do Donald Trump is a

relativist wants to do Donald Trump is a relativist Vladimir Putin is a

relativist Vladimir Putin is a

relativist Vladimir Putin is a relativist very clearly right I mean

relativist very clearly right I mean

relativist very clearly right I mean there’s a Russian democracy there’s an

there’s a Russian democracy there’s an

there’s a Russian democracy there’s an American democracy etc there is no such

American democracy etc there is no such

American democracy etc there is no such thing on the level of values there’s an

thing on the level of values there’s an

thing on the level of values there’s an American administration there’s a

American administration there’s a

American administration there’s a Russian administration but there’s no

Russian administration but there’s no

Russian administration but there’s no American democracy no German democracy

American democracy no German democracy

American democracy no German democracy there’s just democracy when it comes to

there’s just democracy when it comes to

there’s just democracy when it comes to values okay so that’s all false

values okay so that’s all false

values okay so that’s all false goodbye relativist one more villain in

goodbye relativist one more villain in

goodbye relativist one more villain in my game then I hear list now he’s really

my game then I hear list now he’s really

my game then I hear list now he’s really evil so we need to do something against

evil so we need to do something against

evil so we need to do something against a nihilist here’s what the nihilist says

a nihilist here’s what the nihilist says

a nihilist here’s what the nihilist says you think there are universal moral

you think there are universal moral

you think there are universal moral values that are at the bottom of

values that are at the bottom of

values that are at the bottom of democracy that are the foundations of

democracy that are the foundations of

democracy that are the foundations of democracy in your sense of the values of

democracy in your sense of the values of

democracy in your sense of the values of democracy but there really are no values

democracy but there really are no values

democracy but there really are no values at all reality is just physical reality

at all reality is just physical reality

at all reality is just physical reality plus evolutionary biology say okay so

plus evolutionary biology say okay so

plus evolutionary biology say okay so all there is is the swarm of particles

all there is is the swarm of particles

all there is is the swarm of particles electromagnetic radiation and certain

electromagnetic radiation and certain

electromagnetic radiation and certain animals and the animals have of course

animals and the animals have of course

animals and the animals have of course survival interests and in order to look

survival interests and in order to look

survival interests and in order to look good in their own eyes they invent the

good in their own eyes they invent the

good in their own eyes they invent the fantasy of values this is roughly the

fantasy of values this is roughly the

fantasy of values this is roughly the story of Nietzsche who says well there

story of Nietzsche who says well there

story of Nietzsche who says well there might be values but what is I quote him

might be values but what is I quote him

might be values but what is I quote him now the value of these values and

now the value of these values and

now the value of these values and Nietzsche says they have no value okay

Nietzsche says they have no value okay

Nietzsche says they have no value okay the the values themselves have no value

the the values themselves have no value

the the values themselves have no value they only serve a certain function in

they only serve a certain function in

they only serve a certain function in the survival struggle of human beings

the survival struggle of human beings

the survival struggle of human beings they are a function of the will to power

they are a function of the will to power

they are a function of the will to power as he puts it okay a very widespread

as he puts it okay a very widespread

as he puts it okay a very widespread idea which unfortunately is driving

idea which unfortunately is driving

idea which unfortunately is driving large chunks of the so-called science of

large chunks of the so-called science of

large chunks of the so-called science of sociology

sociology

sociology I call this battering-ram sociology so

I call this battering-ram sociology so

I call this battering-ram sociology so the idea that you can understand society

the idea that you can understand society

the idea that you can understand society as a whole as nothing but a power

as a whole as nothing but a power

as a whole as nothing but a power struggle okay so that would be the

struggle okay so that would be the

struggle okay so that would be the nihilistic vision

nihilistic vision

nihilistic vision of morality there really is no such

of morality there really is no such

of morality there really is no such thing no values whatsoever just

thing no values whatsoever just

thing no values whatsoever just particles and animals now what do we do

particles and animals now what do we do

particles and animals now what do we do against a nihilist and this might be my

against a nihilist and this might be my

against a nihilist and this might be my biggest weapon so I come to my

biggest weapon so I come to my

biggest weapon so I come to my conclusion Co immune ISM now that you

conclusion Co immune ISM now that you

conclusion Co immune ISM now that you see what the villain is and what the

see what the villain is and what the

see what the villain is and what the villain wants to say and why it’s

villain wants to say and why it’s

villain wants to say and why it’s dangerous I I want to give you a kind of

dangerous I I want to give you a kind of

dangerous I I want to give you a kind of immune system that you already have I’m

immune system that you already have I’m

immune system that you already have I’m not telling you news I’m just telling

not telling you news I’m just telling

not telling you news I’m just telling you what you already know and what you

you what you already know and what you

you what you already know and what you already know is this you experience your

already know is this you experience your

already know is this you experience your everyday life every single situation as

everyday life every single situation as

everyday life every single situation as value-laden for instance in this

value-laden for instance in this

value-laden for instance in this particular situation everyone listening

particular situation everyone listening

particular situation everyone listening to what I’m saying right in this room or

to what I’m saying right in this room or

to what I’m saying right in this room or maybe on their screens is in a situation

maybe on their screens is in a situation

maybe on their screens is in a situation where certain things can be done and

where certain things can be done and

where certain things can be done and other things can’t I hope you don’t

other things can’t I hope you don’t

other things can’t I hope you don’t start a fistfight right now I feel like

start a fistfight right now I feel like

start a fistfight right now I feel like no one is going to attack me right now

no one is going to attack me right now

no one is going to attack me right now so that’s great and the entire situation

so that’s great and the entire situation

so that’s great and the entire situation comes to me in a moral or in a value

comes to me in a moral or in a value

comes to me in a moral or in a value form values already in in that situation

form values already in in that situation

form values already in in that situation imagine you go to a dinner there’s a

imagine you go to a dinner there’s a

imagine you go to a dinner there’s a certain atmosphere we all know that

certain atmosphere we all know that

certain atmosphere we all know that their atmospheres can be a good or a bad

their atmospheres can be a good or a bad

their atmospheres can be a good or a bad atmosphere people can be kind people can

atmosphere people can be kind people can

atmosphere people can be kind people can be suffering people can be violent and

be suffering people can be violent and

be suffering people can be violent and we humans just have a sense for that

we humans just have a sense for that

we humans just have a sense for that human experience as such the way we are

human experience as such the way we are

human experience as such the way we are as humans puts us in touch with the

as humans puts us in touch with the

as humans puts us in touch with the value of others so quiet Minh being and

value of others so quiet Minh being and

value of others so quiet Minh being and so far as we are human beings our

so far as we are human beings our

so far as we are human beings our experience is the ground of our values

experience is the ground of our values

experience is the ground of our values that is why things such as suffering ok

that is why things such as suffering ok

that is why things such as suffering ok play a crucial role in the justification

play a crucial role in the justification

play a crucial role in the justification of human rights and of ethics in general

of human rights and of ethics in general

of human rights and of ethics in general because suffering is so important in

because suffering is so important in

because suffering is so important in human life we know we will all suffer

human life we know we will all suffer

human life we know we will all suffer but there are other very valuable

but there are other very valuable

but there are other very valuable experience not just the bad ones as it

experience not just the bad ones as it

experience not just the bad ones as it were suffering suffering isn’t the only

were suffering suffering isn’t the only

were suffering suffering isn’t the only origin of ethics there’s also something

origin of ethics there’s also something

origin of ethics there’s also something like giving birth or falling in love

like giving birth or falling in love

like giving birth or falling in love there’s good value-laden experience

there’s good value-laden experience

there’s good value-laden experience there different kinds of value Laden

there different kinds of value Laden

there different kinds of value Laden experience to be in war is horrible

experience to be in war is horrible

experience to be in war is horrible always also for the soldier the soldier

always also for the soldier the soldier

always also for the soldier the soldier doesn’t think that this is great it’s

doesn’t think that this is great it’s

doesn’t think that this is great it’s great for the soldier insofar as the

great for the soldier insofar as the

great for the soldier insofar as the soldier has to fight this war in place

soldier has to fight this war in place

soldier has to fight this war in place his or her role for whatever reason but

his or her role for whatever reason but

his or her role for whatever reason but no soldier things that this is

no soldier things that this is

no soldier things that this is before like in the same sense in which I

before like in the same sense in which I

before like in the same sense in which I enjoy a concert when I’m here you can’t

enjoy a concert when I’m here you can’t

enjoy a concert when I’m here you can’t enjoy war in that particular sense

enjoy war in that particular sense

enjoy war in that particular sense because there’s human experience and

because there’s human experience and

because there’s human experience and human experience is the ground of our

human experience is the ground of our

human experience is the ground of our ethical judgments and you cannot reduce

ethical judgments and you cannot reduce

ethical judgments and you cannot reduce it to anything deeper let me illustrate

it to anything deeper let me illustrate

it to anything deeper let me illustrate this with a very simple thought

this with a very simple thought

this with a very simple thought experiment again so imagine you would

experiment again so imagine you would

experiment again so imagine you would really conclude that all there is is the

really conclude that all there is is the

really conclude that all there is is the physical universe and certain animals

physical universe and certain animals

physical universe and certain animals that evolved in the physical universe

that evolved in the physical universe

that evolved in the physical universe say us the human animal we evolved

say us the human animal we evolved

say us the human animal we evolved somehow right and all that is to say

somehow right and all that is to say

somehow right and all that is to say about the human being is what you have

about the human being is what you have

about the human being is what you have what you can learn from biology and what

what you can learn from biology and what

what you can learn from biology and what you can learn from biology about the

you can learn from biology about the

you can learn from biology about the human being does not come with values

human being does not come with values

human being does not come with values you can understand the behavior of

you can understand the behavior of

you can understand the behavior of humans you can understand the makeup you

humans you can understand the makeup you

humans you can understand the makeup you can also understand their suffering and

can also understand their suffering and

can also understand their suffering and their kindness all right but it doesn’t

their kindness all right but it doesn’t

their kindness all right but it doesn’t give you a justification for your values

give you a justification for your values

give you a justification for your values so this is one way of being a nihilist

so this is one way of being a nihilist

so this is one way of being a nihilist however even if our value experience is

however even if our value experience is

however even if our value experience is of course grounded in our experience as

of course grounded in our experience as

of course grounded in our experience as human animals this does not mean that it

human animals this does not mean that it

human animals this does not mean that it can be reduced to that experience in one

can be reduced to that experience in one

can be reduced to that experience in one word the human experience of value is

word the human experience of value is

word the human experience of value is irreducible it is an independent reality

irreducible it is an independent reality

irreducible it is an independent reality it is something that we can’t deny

it is something that we can’t deny

it is something that we can’t deny however here’s the supervillain in one

however here’s the supervillain in one

however here’s the supervillain in one word okay here’s what’s driving both the

word okay here’s what’s driving both the

word okay here’s what’s driving both the pessimist the relativist and to some

pessimist the relativist and to some

pessimist the relativist and to some extent also denialist the wish to deny

extent also denialist the wish to deny

extent also denialist the wish to deny one’s own humanity as the American

one’s own humanity as the American

one’s own humanity as the American philosopher Stanley Cavell has caught it

philosopher Stanley Cavell has caught it

philosopher Stanley Cavell has caught it and he thinks that there’s nothing

and he thinks that there’s nothing

and he thinks that there’s nothing stronger in humans than that wish we

stronger in humans than that wish we

stronger in humans than that wish we want to get rid of our own humanity why

want to get rid of our own humanity why

want to get rid of our own humanity why because we are responsible we are

because we are responsible we are

because we are responsible we are fundamentally responsible for the

fundamentally responsible for the

fundamentally responsible for the achievement of democracy where democracy

achievement of democracy where democracy

achievement of democracy where democracy is nothing but my name for a system of

is nothing but my name for a system of

is nothing but my name for a system of universally valid norms and these

universally valid norms and these

universally valid norms and these university valid norms apply to everyone

university valid norms apply to everyone

university valid norms apply to everyone regardless of where they come from how

regardless of where they come from how

regardless of where they come from how they look at cetera just think of the

they look at cetera just think of the

they look at cetera just think of the human rights so I want to conclude with

human rights so I want to conclude with

human rights so I want to conclude with a very simple call to action defend the

a very simple call to action defend the

a very simple call to action defend the objectivity of your own experience and

objectivity of your own experience and

objectivity of your own experience and don’t let the pessimist relativist

don’t let the pessimist relativist

don’t let the pessimist relativist annihilist

annihilist

annihilist into your home we need to create a

into your home we need to create a

into your home we need to create a community that is immune to these kinds

community that is immune to these kinds

community that is immune to these kinds of unjustified

of unjustified

of unjustified doubts that is a democracy based on Co

doubts that is a democracy based on Co

doubts that is a democracy based on Co immune ISM thank you very much for your

immune ISM thank you very much for your

immune ISM thank you very much for your attention

attention

attention [Applause]