On moral subjectivism and objectivism

I had a rare morning, as I had time to glance through the newspaper before rushing off to work. In Helsingin Sanomat, two students had written an opinion in which they argued for moral objectivism (according to which moral values exist regardless of our interpretation of them). They were criticizing a previous editorial in Helsingin Sanomat, touching the recent (in)famous Islam example by the Pope. The editorial had promoted a what the students regarded as a subjectivist view on morality (only people's interpretations of moral values exist).

In their rebuttal, the students, after referring a whole number of historical authorities from Socrates to Newton, argued that moral relativism and subjectivism are dangerous views, according to which we cannot condemn, e.g., Nazi atrocities. "Moral relativism is a view best left within university walls".

I would argue the absolute opposite. Moral objectivism is a dangerous view, best fiddled with within university circles. Academics can play their games, exploring what it might mean that moral values have objective existence. In practice, objectivism very easily leads to religious fundamentalism, when people rush to read holy scriptures in their attempt of finding the TRUTH about morality. These processes typically lead to people getting hurt.

Indeed, I find the notion that the moral subjectivist cannot condemn perceived moral atrocities, e.g. , the massacres conducted by Nazis, rather strange. Of course a subjectivist can condemn such actions. Indeed, he or she will, if she regards them as atrocities. It seems that indeed, most people do. I am puzzled by the fact that so many people seem to fear morality lacking an universal ontological bedrock. Isn't it an uplifting thought that morality is what we manage to make of it?

Some soothing music on the bus today. The song Middletown Dreams from Rush was playing in my head when I woke up and I had to play it from my iPod on the way to work. It is a melancholic, yet sympathetic acccount of life in a small town.

The boy walks with his best friend
Through the fields of early May
They walk awhile in silence
One close - one far away

But he'd be climbing on that bus
Just him and his guitar
To blaze across the heavens
Like a brilliant shooting star

For me, the text has wider meaning, also somewhat relevant to the subjectivist / objectivist debate. Most of us dream of making something big of ourselves. In the end, most of us do not reach the stars, but have to accept a mundane existence where the value of what we are doing is mostly our personal interpretation. Yet, in the end, this seems like not such a bad existence after all.