Thoughts on Oughts

(These general objections (“one ought not to derive an ought from an is” being self-undermining) are already covered in the bottom section of the Wikipedia article under misunderstanding.)

Hilary Putnam argues that philosophers who accept Hume's "is–ought" distinction reject his reasons in making it, and thus undermine the entire claim.

Various scholars have also indicated that, in the very work where Hume argues for the is–ought problem, Hume himself derives an "ought" from an "is". (Annette Baier, in Pigden Charles R. ed) Such seeming inconsistencies in Hume have led to an ongoing debate over whether Hume actually held to the is–ought problem in the first place, or whether he meant that ought inferences can be made but only with good argumentation. (Pigden Charles R. ed)

Jared continues:

According to Ethical Naturalism a statement of the form “In order for agent A to achieve goal B, A reasonably ought to do C” does not exhibit a category error and may be factually verified or refuted. And philosopher P responding that the “goal B is still an ought with no grounding” makes a reasonable point, but we can just look at the behavior of P to see what he really thinks about certain goals B1, B2, B3, etc.

Here are we compile a list of optional goals

Mouth Full of Teeth

Fact: brushing and flossing one’s teeth daily has a causal connection to dental health and tooth longevity, and not brushing leads to tooth decay, loss of teeth, cavities extra surgery, etc.; not flossing leads to gingivitis, halitosis, tooth decay, cavities, etc.

However, according to those who stand by Is-ought Problem / Hume’s Law one ought not to claim that one ought to brush and floss regularly in order to keep one’s teeth. According to ethical naturalism, if one wishes to keep one’s teeth, one ought to brush and floss regularly. However, both agree that we ought not to say “one ought to keep one’s teeth.” Who knows what one ought to do? Apparently rooms full of philosophers with mouths full of teeth cannot come to an agreement nor admit that one ought to keep one’s teeth, despite their actions proving what their words cannot. (Hey, it could be culturally contingent.)

Exercise and Longevity

Fact: similarly, regular exercise and physical activity have a strong causal connection to overall health and longevity, and not exercising regularly is tied to chronic disease and early mortality.

However, according to those who stand by Is-ought Problem / Hume’s Law, one ought not claim that one ought to exercise regularly in order to live a longer, healthier life. According to ethical naturalism, if one wishes to lead a longer, healthier life, one ought to exercise regularly. However, both agree that we ought not to say “one ought to try to live a long, healthy life.” Who knows what one ought to do? Apparently a room full of living philosophers wishing to spread their ideas cannot come to an agreement nor admit that one ought to be alive in order to spread one’s ideas, despite their actions proving what their words cannot. (The dead can no longer speak nor write, so we don’t hear them advocating for a shorter life, exercise be damned, by the way.)

Sleep and Mental Decline, General Health

Similar factual research on sleep quantity and quality demonstrates the point that if one wishes to lead a longer, healthier, more mentally stable life, one ought to take sleep seriously. However one ought not to say that one ought to sleep well nor lead a longer, healthier, more mentally healthy life.

Tobacco use and other harmful substances

Similar factual research on smoking or consumption of harmful substances demonstrates if one wishes to lead a longer, more mentally stable and health life, one ought to avoid such substances. However one ought not to say that one ought live a longer, healthier, more mentally healthy life, as we demonstrated.

Vulnerability to a walking counter-example

I suppose that a philosopher with no teeth could walk into a philosophy conference and shout, “One ought not to want a mouth full of teeth” to show that it is possible to have differing goals than our shared biology might otherwise suggest. However, it might be difficult not to mistake him for a homeless person, if we could even understand his speech clearly.