Q&A: Psychology and Morality
Psychology and Morality
Question
Rabbi, when I make a value judgment that I see as something binding, doesn’t it really stem only from my environment and from psychological factors that influenced me? If not, then what is a value judgment actually based on?
Answer
If it stems from the environment, then it is not my decision but a product of external influences. If that is the situation, then there is no meaning at all to moral or immoral conduct, and no meaning at all to judging human beings and their actions. From that perspective, human beings are sheep. Of course, none of this proves that it is not true, but one should understand that this is the implication. To the best of my understanding, values are formed on the basis of perception (not sensory perception). I understand that this is how one ought to act, and I decide to commit myself to those values. See column 546 on moral realism. From this it follows that conduct and judging it do have meaning. See also column 120.