Desires vs. Moral Intuitions

Many people confuse what appeals to their desires with what appeals to their moral intuitions.

A helpful example to consider is human freedom. Human beings ‘naturally’ gravitate to any system which empowers them to have as much personal agency/freedom to act and say what they wish to the greatest extent possible. It’s a universal human desire not to feel constricted and limited in what we can say and do. Does that mean, however, that our moral sensibilities are playing an equally relevant role in influencing our reception of such a notion?

Determining what is morally sound demands considerably more commitment by the individual to examine whether his inclinations align with the ideals of whatever moral code he adheres to (in the case of Muslims, Islam). Given the heedlessness widely observed in so many people, I would not presume, sadly, that most individuals engage in such a self-introspecting exercise.

It is critical to highlight this crucial distinction in our conversations with people who like to present specific stances as being ethically superior and intuitive by merely appealing to the large number of people who find them “appealing.”