Hume’s law

Hume's Law, named after philosopher David Hume, states that one cannot logically derive an "ought" (a moral obligation) solely from an "is" (a statement of fact). In essence, statements about what is the case do not automatically lead to conclusions about what ought to be the case. This highlights a fundamental distinction between facts and values.12

Hume argued that morality is based on sentiment or feeling rather than pure reason. He believed that reason is the "slave of the passions" and can only help achieve existing desires, not determine what those desires should be. Therefore, moral judgments, for Hume, arise from feelings of approval or disapproval, not from logical deduction from factual premises. This perspective has influenced utilitarianism and positivism.234