The Is-Ought Problem (David Hume)

The video introduces a philosophical problem in meta-ethics known as the 'is-ought problem' raised by David Hume, which questions how we can derive moral obligations (what ought to be) from factual statements about the world (what is). It illustrates this with an example of poison, explaining that while it is a fact that poison is dangerous, this does not inherently dictate moral actions. The discussion highlights the gap in reasoning when attempting to link natural facts to moral values, emphasizing that moral claims cannot simply be derived from empirical observations. The video then explores the connection between morality and pleasure/pain, referencing utilitarianism, but notes that this approach has its limitations. Ultimately, it suggests that moral knowledge may come from non-natural facts or moral intuitions, which are not empirically verifiable, leaving the discussion open to faith-based interpretations.