the Open Question Argument

The Open Question Argument suggests that if moral properties (like what’s right or wrong) could be reduced to natural properties (like happiness or social approval), then asking, “Is this good or bad?” would be a meaningless or obvious question. Since we can still genuinely ask and debate this question, it indicates that moral properties are not simply reducible to natural ones. In other words, morality involves something more than just natural facts, and the argument highlights the distinct, non-natural aspect of moral qualities.