# Is morality intuitive? **URL:** \ **Category:** Ethics\ **Created:** [August 14, 2026, 2:51am UTC](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/t/is-morality-intuitive/2356 "2026-08-14T02:51:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Garon](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex007/user_avatar/www.thephilosophyforum.com/garon/32/1028_2.png) [@Garon](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/u/Garon)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2026, 1:11pm UTC](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/t/is-morality-intuitive/2356/41 "2026-08-15T13:11:06Z")
What morality does through law, philosophy does through query. If you are a philosopher, you deal with goodness; where good is refined through philosophy. We try to sharpen our understanding of all topics, in effort to produce a greater good performance. Whereas morality is an easy-mode stabilizer, law revolving around goodness. ---
**Author:** ![Johnnywas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/22d042/32.png) [@Johnnywas](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/u/Johnnywas)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2026, 5:02pm UTC](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/t/is-morality-intuitive/2356/42 "2026-08-15T17:02:13Z")
Thanks for clarifying > [@Geoff\_Dann](#): > > I believe laws are necessary, even though I don’t agree with some of them. I am not an anarchist. Thanks, I am not an anarchist either. I just think morality is best explained by human nature and as an emergent property of human society. ---
**Author:** ![ages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c0e974/32.png) [@ages](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/u/ages)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2026, 12:29pm UTC](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/t/is-morality-intuitive/2356/43 "2026-08-16T12:29:43Z")
> [@invicta](#): > > My question to philosophers is, is morality intuitionistic or something that needs to be taught ? Morality is what you here call ‘intuitionistic’, but you need to be taught HOW to find it. you need to unlearn what you have, and go back to basics and simplicity to find and know what is actually Right, in Life. ---
**Author:** ![JunS\_RE](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex007/user_avatar/www.thephilosophyforum.com/juns_re/32/1228_2.png) [@JunS\_RE](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/u/JunS_RE)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2026, 10:31pm UTC](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/t/is-morality-intuitive/2356/44 "2026-08-21T22:31:07Z")
I believe “Moral Intuition” exists. Although, having it does not compel you to follow it in a perfect manner. I know some foods are healthy and some are not… but I still end up eating junk food now and then. Weakness of will probably plays a big role in us failing to stay in line with our Moral Intuition a lot of the time. Whether you are highly in tune with your Moral Intuition or not… it does not compel you to be moral at all times. We still have Free-Agency, along with various pressures, desires, incentives, fears, etc. that can push our moral reasoning from one end to the other. ---
**Author:** ![o\_OAnnaO\_o](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/34f0e0/32.png) [@o\_OAnnaO\_o](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/u/o_OAnnaO_o)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2026, 9:10am UTC](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/t/is-morality-intuitive/2356/45 "2026-10-02T09:10:12Z")
I dont think morality should be intuitive, it should be a strict system, like mathematics. In certain situation shohld be one moral way (for that certain morality) to act after. Intuitive acting is just emotion, no morality. If you see a person insulting another one, your emotions tell you this is not right and that you even should intervene, same for your morality as yoir system forbids you to insult other people without a reason or to let it happen. But if it is your best friend who insults another person your emotions are extremely biased, you maybe would ignore it, morality as a system wouldnt, it doesnr matter who does the injustice. Thats the point where the difference between emotions or justice as a feeling and morality as a system with rules is. Sorry for poor grammar or expressions, im german and new to the forum. Please reply if you see it otherwise! (^—^) ---
**Author:** ![invicta](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex007/user_avatar/www.thephilosophyforum.com/invicta/32/1147_2.png) [@invicta](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/u/invicta)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2026, 9:23am UTC](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/t/is-morality-intuitive/2356/46 "2026-10-02T09:23:32Z")
Welcome to the forum Anna, morality if we do have principles and by principles i refer to your greatest German moralist which is Immanuel Kant, then his summary of morality being: “act as if your actions were to become universal law” then we have a stable grounding of what morality should look like. Morality shouldn’t be guided by emotional state there and then but by certain unshakable principles such as equality, liberty and justice. The only question remains is if these last 3 principles are actually intuitive. ---
**Author:** ![Elephant](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex007/user_avatar/www.thephilosophyforum.com/elephant/32/294_2.png) [@Elephant](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/u/Elephant)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2026, 3:43pm UTC](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/t/is-morality-intuitive/2356/47 "2026-10-02T15:43:17Z")
> [@o\_OAnnaO\_o](#): > > But if it is your best friend who insults another person your emotions are extremely biased, you maybe would ignore it, morality as a system wouldn’t, it doesn’t matter who does the injustice. > That’s the point where the difference between emotions or justice as a feeling and morality as a system with rules is. There is a fallacy that needs to be addressed in this thread. I have read others’ posts and that completes my understanding of the topic. But this right here has been raised in the OP and by the comment above: **that if morality is intuitive, then there shouldn’t be bad behavior anymore.** That is ignoring people’s individualistic nature and the **environment** in which they exist. Not to mention that we have very many examples of family members reporting on their own family member for crimes committed. Biases, prejudice, discrimination, nepotism can co-exist with ethical behavior. Another misconception is that if we mechanize, that is, if we employ mathematics into morality, that we would be more successful. Incorrect. 1. We have anti-science and anti-proof people. 1. Science and mathematics cannot explain all of humanity. Therefore, they cannot solve all of the problems. They report facts. ---
**Author:** ![WeSee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c5a1d2/32.png) [@WeSee](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/u/WeSee)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2026, 9:25pm UTC](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/t/is-morality-intuitive/2356/48 "2026-10-03T21:25:09Z")
> [@invicta](#): > > My question to philosophers is, is morality intuitionistic or something that needs to be taught ? Neither. Morality is something that needs to be understood. The reliabilty of intuition spans the continuum from extremely unreliable to extremely reliable depending on the individual with the vast majority lying toward the former. Objective morality exists much like objective principles of engineering exist and objective principles of good chess play exist. They are there only needing to be understood. ---
**Author:** ![Elephant](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex007/user_avatar/www.thephilosophyforum.com/elephant/32/294_2.png) [@Elephant](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/u/Elephant)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2026, 10:17pm UTC](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/t/is-morality-intuitive/2356/49 "2026-10-03T22:17:11Z")
> [@WeSee](#): > > Morality is something that needs to be understood I’d like to be schooled on this please. ---
**Author:** ![WeSee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c5a1d2/32.png) [@WeSee](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/u/WeSee)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2026, 3:23pm UTC](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/t/is-morality-intuitive/2356/50 "2026-10-04T15:23:19Z")
Do you believe that objective principles of engineering exist and objective principles of good chess play exist? Why would that not be the case for morality? cc @o_OAnnaO_o ---
**Author:** ![AmadeusD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f9ae1b/32.png) [@AmadeusD](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/u/AmadeusD)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2026, 7:24pm UTC](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/t/is-morality-intuitive/2356/51 "2026-10-04T19:24:18Z")
> [@invicta](#): > > My question to philosophers is, is morality intuitionistic or something that needs to be taught ? Tough. I think your opener is wrong: most people have an intuitive morality. But these do not align, and that’s a huge problem. I think people need to be taught _other people’s_ morality in order to optimally flourish. I don’t think that’s a moral prescription though. Just …if you want to flourish in the world as-it-is. I think the world would be better if people were, as a matter of course, taught the basic tenets of ethics and morality from a philosophical (or even technical) perspective. People don’t _examine_ their intuitions and I think that’s the biggest issue. And I wont deny some people are probably incapable. And that sucks - but most people being capable, we could strive for a best-outcome type of go at it. ---
**Author:** ![invicta](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex007/user_avatar/www.thephilosophyforum.com/invicta/32/1147_2.png) [@invicta](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/u/invicta)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2026, 7:29pm UTC](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/t/is-morality-intuitive/2356/52 "2026-10-04T19:29:54Z")
So you’re saying at a basic level that people don’t know right from wrong ? Taken to extremes the primitive culture of man does not know that murder is wrong? Or to trivialise the matter when a child takes another child’s lollipop they do so because they don’t know it’s wrong ? That stealing/theft is an action performed removed from any moral framework ? I suppose morality is behavioural, a child has simply failed to learn the golden rule but does this rule out the innate sense of justice in everyone or is it only applicable to certain scenarios ? ---
**Author:** ![AmadeusD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f9ae1b/32.png) [@AmadeusD](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/u/AmadeusD)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2026, 7:33pm UTC](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/t/is-morality-intuitive/2356/53 "2026-10-04T19:33:35Z")
With a genuinely want to not have this come across rude: No, I’m saying what I have said. There is no “right from wrong” to be intuited. There are things people intuit as right and wrong. We wash them together and see what comes out - and teach people the facts of that matter. Murder is a legal term. Even 70 years ago, killing people for trivial matters was far better accepted, including for being a racist POS (i.e the perpetrator, not victim). I’m essentially saying everyone _has_ an innate sense of justice, but no one has a line on it being “right” or “Wrong” because these are taught concepts, in practice. Most children think it’s absolutely fine to take what they want, unless taught otherwise. Empathy is learned, as much by wrote as by practice/experience. ---
**Author:** ![invicta](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex007/user_avatar/www.thephilosophyforum.com/invicta/32/1147_2.png) [@invicta](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/u/invicta)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2026, 7:37pm UTC](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/t/is-morality-intuitive/2356/54 "2026-10-04T19:37:01Z")
Then what you’re saying is that morality works on feedback … but how can you reconcile that with “ignorance of the law is no excuse” ? Which happens to be one of the oldest principles in law … ---
**Author:** ![AmadeusD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f9ae1b/32.png) [@AmadeusD](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/u/AmadeusD)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2026, 6:33pm UTC](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/t/is-morality-intuitive/2356/55 "2026-10-05T18:33:55Z")
They are not related. The Law is not moral intuition. The Law is how we get “wrong” and “right” collectively. Its not moral. ---
**Author:** ![Johnnywas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/22d042/32.png) [@Johnnywas](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/u/Johnnywas)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2026, 8:43pm UTC](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/t/is-morality-intuitive/2356/56 "2026-10-11T20:43:41Z")
I think this was a good question. I do think that moral values have a basis in intuition and I think its a sensible question to ask. I have been watching Thad Polk’s course on Understanding Cognition. Its exceptionally good. He explains at length various studies of cognition in babies providing evidence that babies can separate helper/hinderer fair/unfair and aggressor/victim. The studies do not demonstrate beyond doubt the big claim that morality is intuitive but it’s difficult to believe that these innate skills do not shape morality > [@Baden](#): > > There is ample evidence that we are intuitively or “naturally” moral. The book, for example, presents studies on babies that show we develop a moral sense very early, and successfully debunks evidence that a) when the thin veneer of moral social control is removed or reversed, we lose all moral sense and b) pre-civilised hunter gatherers were inherently violent and warlike. Indeed although we can believe that morality has its basis in intuition while also believing that modem societies have consistently reduced overall levels of violence. > [@invicta](#): > > Homosexuality at one point was considered immoral and unacceptable by society at that time. This changed as tolerance grew to other forms of sexual expression. Thats was and is not my view. I have always supported people’s rights to express their sexulaity. However, I admit that it is a complicated argument - and the issues are about balance of harms ( real and sometimes imagined). If we believe morality to be intuiitive we still might not expect it to straightforwardly answer every moral question. > [@WeSee](#): > > Do you believe that objective principles of engineering exist and objective principles of good chess play exist? Why would that not be the case for morality? No, if followiing a world disaster we lost the rules to Chess then no one would ever reinvent that particular game. However, if all our moral codes were destroyed we would produce a new version (possibly very different in style and tone) which is recognisable in it’s basics. ---
**Author:** ![invicta](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex007/user_avatar/www.thephilosophyforum.com/invicta/32/1147_2.png) [@invicta](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/u/invicta)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2026, 9:05pm UTC](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/t/is-morality-intuitive/2356/57 "2026-10-11T21:05:59Z")
I’m not as certain now as i was when I wrote the opening post that morality is indeed intuitive and we can observe this in young children who take other children’s toys which is some sort of early years primitive theft kind of thing going on, if morality was innate then this wouldn’t happen so then I have adjusted my position that moral intuition must be guided by experience and education. ---
**Author:** ![WeSee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c5a1d2/32.png) [@WeSee](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/u/WeSee)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2026, 9:10pm UTC](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/t/is-morality-intuitive/2356/58 "2026-10-11T21:10:17Z")
> [@Johnnywas](#): > > No, if followiing a world disaster we lost the rules to chess then no one would ever reinvent that particular game. > > However, if all our moral codes were destroyed we would produce a new version (possibly very different in style and tone)(which is recognisable in it’s basics. This is a non sequitur. Likely because you failed to first understand the context of what I wrote. The point is that objective principles exist for complex problem domains. So too with morality. If @Elephant denies that for problem domains such as engineering and chess, then there is no point in trying to explain it for morality. A floorof understanding must first be reached to be able to grasp certain concepts. ---
**Author:** ![Johnnywas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/22d042/32.png) [@Johnnywas](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/u/Johnnywas)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2026, 9:24pm UTC](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/t/is-morality-intuitive/2356/59 "2026-10-11T21:24:04Z")
There is a difference between knowing the difference between right and wrong and reliably doing what is right.. Children may know that what they are doing is wrong but may not have worked out that there are potential consequences for them if they steal. That does indeed require practical wisdom. ---
**Author:** ![invicta](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex007/user_avatar/www.thephilosophyforum.com/invicta/32/1147_2.png) [@invicta](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/u/invicta)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2026, 9:26pm UTC](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/t/is-morality-intuitive/2356/60 "2026-10-11T21:26:26Z")
I highly doubt a one year old infant knows right from wrong when they take another child’s toy. The action is purely instinctive not necessarily immoral. [Previous page](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/t/is-morality-intuitive/2356.md?page=2) [Next page](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/t/is-morality-intuitive/2356.md?page=4)