Objective morality does not depend on axioms. As Dr Michael Huemer pointed out, there might be no algorithm to figure things out what is moral and what is not.
But even so you do what to have basic starting points so you do not end up with a regress of reasons or reasons that are self contradictory or have axioms that make no sense.
But even so you do what to have basic starting points so you do not end up with a regress of reasons or reasons that are self contradictory or have axioms that make no sense.
So I can see why trust in God was thought in Navardok [and in the teachings of Rav Nahman also to some degree] as your starting axiom.And to a great degree this was carried over into the entire Lithuanian yeshiva world--to a lesser degree than it had been in Navardok but still thought to be a major first principle.
[So at the Mir when I was there, there were few basic assumptions. The actual first one was learning Torah. No surprise there. And that is quite valid. See the Nedesh HaHaim of Rav Haim of Voloshin for details. But also where a few other axioms. Trust in God [that means in that sense -to learn Torah and not worry about making a living. When it comes time to make a living God will help.]; not to speak Lason Hara (that was a big principle); kindness when others need help; being extremely careful about monetary issues--that is to be scrupulous/ careful to the nth degree. In general a major emphasis on good character traits.] [I can not say how much of that wore off on me, but I hope some did.]
[In terms of how I started out, it was Leonard Nelson that was building on axioms trying to develop the intent of David Hilbert of putting Philosophy on axioms--as Hilbert wanted for Mathematics and Physics]
Secular Morality usually starts with highly doubtful axioms. They find some slogan which sounds good and then base everything on that. And those slogans change with the tides.
[So at the Mir when I was there, there were few basic assumptions. The actual first one was learning Torah. No surprise there. And that is quite valid. See the Nedesh HaHaim of Rav Haim of Voloshin for details. But also where a few other axioms. Trust in God [that means in that sense -to learn Torah and not worry about making a living. When it comes time to make a living God will help.]; not to speak Lason Hara (that was a big principle); kindness when others need help; being extremely careful about monetary issues--that is to be scrupulous/ careful to the nth degree. In general a major emphasis on good character traits.] [I can not say how much of that wore off on me, but I hope some did.]
[In terms of how I started out, it was Leonard Nelson that was building on axioms trying to develop the intent of David Hilbert of putting Philosophy on axioms--as Hilbert wanted for Mathematics and Physics]
Secular Morality usually starts with highly doubtful axioms. They find some slogan which sounds good and then base everything on that. And those slogans change with the tides.
