ADA Debate Worksheet - Jasmine Polk 8-18-2023

Debate Worksheet Craig vs. Harris Morality--Is the Foundation of Morality Natural or Supernatural? Directions: Complete and Submit this worksheet via SafeAssign in this Week’s Folder. Questions Answers 1. What moral theory does Craig attempt to defend? 1. If God exists, there is a strong foundation for objective moral standards and obligations. 2. There is no firm foundation for objective moral standards and obligations if God does not exist. Craig contends that if there is a God, then we have a standard by which to judge what is good and bad. The absence of God, however, leaves us with nothing to base our morals on. 2. What view of morality is held in common by both Craig and Harris? Craig underlined that Harris was, in fact, entirely in favor of the notion that there are unchangeable moral standards. 3. Does Craig’s argument/conclusion depend on the existence of God? Yes, Craig refers to God as the ostensibly 'objective' basis for morality. Craig asserts that God is the only possible explanation for the existence of objective moral standards. 4. Why does Craig object to grounding morality in the natural world? Craig disagrees that morality should be based on the natural world since it emphasizes the survival of the fittest. According to Craig, humans only act in ways that are consistent with their animal nature. 5. How does Harris define “Good” and why does Craig object to this definition? As stated by Harris, "that which supports the well-being of conscious creatures" is good. Craig claims that this definition uses an absurd term to define "good" without offering any supporting data. 6. Why does Craig say natural science cannot give moral duties? As Craig notes, natural science is fact-based and goal-oriented. Facts don't have moral good or bad; they just are. 7. Why does Craig say it makes no sense to say someone “ought” to do something on a naturalistic model? Morality is not the foundation of the naturalistic model. What "ought" to be done has no basis in morality. 8. Harris says that belief in God is not necessary for a universal morality, and worse it can be a source of what? According to Harris, moral blindness might result from a belief in God. 9. How does Harris answer the objection that science cannot speak to values? Harris answers the objection to the statement by stating that evolution and culture over a period of time play a crucial role in creating our values. Our values are an improvisation on the back of biology. 10. What does Harris say is the minimal standard of moral goodness? According to Harris, the minimal standard of moral goodness is to avoid the worst possible misery for everyone. 11. What is Harris’ argument for moral truth in the context of science? According to Harris, since we have the capacity to consider right and wrong, science is intrinsically connected to this ability. 12. What is the difference between Moral Ontology and Moral Semantics? While Moral Semantics challenges the definition of moral terminology, Moral Ontology serves as the cornerstone of objective moral values and obligations. 13. Does Craig agree that religion is not necessary for a universal morality? No, according to Craig, there cannot be any objective morals without a religious foundation for morality. 14. What does Craig accuse Harris of doing with respect to the word “good”? He asserts that he has not provided evidence to indicate that, if atheism were true, there would be something objectively wrong about what a psychopath does. 15. What claim does Craig say Harris must defend, and why can’t it be defended? In addition to arguing that [the flourishing of conscious animals is objectively beneficial given atheism], Harris must also justify an even more radical assertion. He asserts that the quality of goodness and the quality of creaturely