The Search for an

Exceptionless Moral Principle or Norm

Some trivial examples:

(1) Do the right thing.

(2) Murder is wrong.

Substantive norms and principles:

(1) One should never use nuclear weapons.

(2) If an individual is faced with a choice of A or B and action A will kill more people than action B, the morally correct choice is action B.  Taking fewer lives is more morally correct than taking more lives.

(3) It is always wrong to judge people based on physical characteristics such as skin color, deformities, etc...

(4) It is wrong for one human to extend ownership over another.

(5) Genocide is always wrong.

(6) Child rape is always wrong.

(7) Torture is always wrong.

(8) It is wrong to torture for the sole purpose of entertainment.

(9) Animal cruelty is always wrong.