Q&A: Norm and Value
Originally published:
This is an English translation (via GPT-5.4). Read the original Hebrew version.
Norm and Value
Question
Do you think a given norm must always be grounded in some value or values?
In other words, do you think that a norm that is not grounded in a value is baseless and irrational (even though it is still legally valid, of course)? More specifically, for someone like you who advocates an intuitive approach, is it enough, for example, that our intuition tells us that the norm “do not murder” is a good and moral norm and worth obeying, or does it need to be grounded in the value of life?
Answer
Nothing is necessary. But it is reasonable that the negative value of murder (the norm, in your terms) stems from the value of life.