The question of whether morality is objective or invented by humans is one of the oldest and most debated questions in philosophy. There is no single, universally agreed-upon answer. However, we can break down the different perspectives:

**Objective Morality (Moral Realism):**

*   **Belief:** Moral truths exist independently of human opinion, culture, or belief. They are "out there" to be discovered, like scientific facts.
*   **Arguments for:**
    *   **Universality:** Some argue that certain moral principles seem to be universal across cultures (e.g., prohibitions against murder, theft). This suggests an objective basis.
    *   **Moral Progress:** We often talk about moral progress (e.g., the abolition of slavery). This implies there's a standard to measure progress against, suggesting objective values.
    *   **Moral Intuitions:** Many people have strong moral intuitions about right and wrong that seem to transcend their personal preferences or cultural norms.
    *   **God or Divine Command Theory:** This perspective posits that morality comes from a divine source (God, gods, etc.).
    *   **Platonism:** Some argue that moral values are abstract, eternal objects, similar to mathematical concepts.
*   **Challenges:**
    *   **Disagreement:** There is significant disagreement about which specific moral principles are objective.
    *   **Lack of Empirical Evidence:** It's difficult to provide empirical evidence for the existence of objective moral truths.
    *   **Accessibility:** If objective moral truths exist, how do we access them? How do we know we've got it right?

**Subjective Morality (Moral Subjectivism/Relativism):**

*   **Belief:** Moral judgments are based on individual feelings, opinions, or cultural norms. There is no objective right or wrong.
*   **Types:**
    *   **Individual Subjectivism:** Morality is based on each person's individual beliefs or feelings.
    *   **Cultural Relativism:** Morality is based on the cultural norms of a society. What is right or wrong depends on the culture.
*   **Arguments for:**
    *   **Cultural Diversity:** Different cultures have different moral codes. This suggests morality is culturally constructed.
    *   **Personal Opinion:** People often have strong moral opinions, which can vary widely, and that makes us think it should have origin in that person alone.
    *   **Tolerance:** Relativism can promote tolerance by acknowledging that different people have different moral perspectives and is thus okay.
*   **Challenges:**
    *   **Moral Progress:** If morality is purely relative, it's difficult to explain how societies can make moral progress.
    *   **Moral Criticism:** If all moral systems are equally valid, it's difficult to criticize practices that are considered morally wrong in other cultures.
    *   **Arbitrariness:** If morality is purely subjective, it can seem arbitrary, with no rational basis.

**Hybrid or "Constructivist" Theories:**

*   **Belief:** Morality is a human construction, but not in a purely arbitrary way. It might involve a combination of biological predispositions, cultural influences, and rational reasoning.
*   **Examples:**
    *   **Moral psychology:** This approach studies moral cognition and emotions, examining how our brains and social environments shape our moral judgments.
    *   **Rawls's Theory of Justice:** Proposes principles of justice that rational people would agree to under conditions of impartiality.
*   **Arguments:**
    *   **Complex Interactions:** Acknowledges the complex interplay of factors that influence moral beliefs.
    *   **Rationality:** Allows for a role for reason and deliberation in moral decision-making.
*   **Challenges:**
    *   **Defining Construction:** It can be difficult to specify the exact mechanisms and rules people should use to create these morals .
    *   **Vulnerability:** This approach can be vulnerable to the same criticisms as subjectivism or objectivism, depending on how "construction" is defined.

**In summary:**

The debate over the origin of morality is complex and ongoing. There's no consensus.  Each perspective has strengths and weaknesses. It's important to consider all the arguments and weigh the evidence before forming your own conclusion.  Furthermore, the issue also brings in other concepts such as epistemology (how we know) and ethics of the question itself (how we should value one conclusion over another).
