Renee asked:

In your opinion do you think there is universal moral truth and why?

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The only moral truth which is universal is that you should not do what you consider to be wrong, since
this may lead to remorse. However, this means you already have moral values. There is no universal
moral truth about values since nothing is absolutely wrong in all circumstances. Even if we claim
killing is wrong there may be circumstances in which we would deem it to be acceptable.

The search for universality in morality is driven by the fear that there is no absolute reason to be
moral, or that morality is relative and we can adopt any values or principles we please. However, one
view of morality put forward by R. Gaita in Good and Evil: An Absolute Conceptiondescribes morality
as moral understanding which is understanding of value concepts and critical terms. Morality is not
about what to do and what not to do but about understanding the meaning of what we do which
involves coming to know the difference between kindness and sentimentality, or the connection
between evil, unreality and a lack of remorse or pity. Good is absolute in the sense that in the
deepening of one's understanding of morality it comes to have an intrinsic worth to you as a human
being.

Rachel Browne