Moral Facts Involving Promises
I'll begin by clearing up any possible misunderstandings based upon different senses of some language. There are a couple of key terms here. Facts are what's happened and/or is happening. The term "moral" is being used to pick out any and all situations involving acceptable/unacceptable behaviour. So, moral facts are a kind of situation/fact, not a value assessment thereof based upon belief about what counts as acceptable/unacceptable behavior.
Situations involving discussions about acceptable/unacceptable behavior are moral facts.
When we discuss a making a promise, we are discussing the act of giving one's word to make the world match their words. To make a promise is to voluntarily obligate oneself to do what they promise to do.
Nothing too objectionable there.
Now, let us introduce the idea of true statements about the moral facts...
When one promises to plant a rose garden on Sunday, then on Monday there ought be a rose garden. The second statement is true, and it contains an ought.
Situations involving discussions about acceptable/unacceptable behavior are moral facts.
When we discuss a making a promise, we are discussing the act of giving one's word to make the world match their words. To make a promise is to voluntarily obligate oneself to do what they promise to do.
Nothing too objectionable there.
Now, let us introduce the idea of true statements about the moral facts...
When one promises to plant a rose garden on Sunday, then on Monday there ought be a rose garden. The second statement is true, and it contains an ought.
Comments (1)
I don't think the first sentence is strictly true. Making a promise doesn't necessary entail a result, and even if it does, I don't think it's reasonable to automatically take it as a promise that the result will happen. Only that one will make a good effort.
I can promise to "try to persuade someone". Even if I promise to "plant a rose garden", I don't think a resonable expectation is "therefore, there'll be a rose garden". Rather, the "promisee" would expect me to make a honest effort, but I might still fail.
That's a problem for your second argument:
Quoting creativesoul
On Monday, I ought ot have made the effort to plant a rose garden. It could still end up destroyed by meteor strike.