(no subject)
This is from something i wrote in June of 2002.
Adult humans are reasonable animals. To be reasonable one must be able to explain the reasons for doing something. With the ability to reason comes the ability to make choices. In the beginning of life there is no way for human animals to communicate therefore they are dependent on those that take care of them. Without a way of comprehensible communication babies may not be considered reasonable animals. “It is because without language…” (MacIntyre, p.53) When youths can rationalize greater goods with different actions they seem to be becoming reasonable animals. “Human infants… have prelinguistic reasons for actions…” (MacIntyre, p.56) With no language the actions an infant makes to benefit its self are for a “quick fix.” Their ancestors may have developed the actions it makes. The actions that are considered impulsive could possibly be evolutionary. “…Served themselves and their offspring.” (Wilson, p.98) It seems as though animals are born with at least some sort of sense. There is more to an animal than it is born with though. If the only skills an animal possessed were the few it had inherited from its predecessors most animals would be incredibly inept. Also, if animals only had the skills and knowledge of those before them when was the first animal of each species? Animals adapt and learn throughout their lifetime. There is a certain amount of natural instincts one is born with but to survive in the ever-changing world animals make choices for their survival.
The human animal flourishes greatly throughout its life, depending on its surroundings. How much the human animal flourishes cannot be described exactly. The animal is created with an inner sense of good or a desire to flourish. Animals have goals. Each small goal leads to the accomplishment of a bigger goal. The final goal is the greatest good to the animal. Different animals have different greatest goods. To be truly good, qua, an animal must not only promote the greatest good for its self but for other animals around it. “It may well be best for me and for others…” (MacIntyre, p. 66) The measure and definition of what is good is different in all cultures. The only way to flourish is to analyze the situation at hand and choose the best choice for one’s self. “Human beings need to learn to understand themselves as practical reasoners…” (MacIntyre, p. 67) Human beings have to know what they want. There are things that influence humans such as friends, family, media, or anything outside of one’s self that presents new ideas or new ways of thinking. There are virtues one has that are a part of him or her self that also influence how he or she rationalizes and reasons. The virtues are sympathy, fairness, self-control, and duty. Each virtue has its own characteristics. One virtue that may not be as strong in the beginning of a human’s life is self-control. One must learn self-control. Self-control consists of manners, monitoring the intake of substances, and not acting on impulses. Children usually act on impulse at younger ages because they haven’t learned to control themselves and rationalize their actions. On the other hand, it seems most people are born with a sense of sympathy, fairness, and duty. Sympathy and fairness effect one’s qua, goodness. To be a qua person one must be sympathetic and fair to those around him or her. Both sympathy and fairness are virtues that show compassion towards others. Duty also shows compassion. Duty is the where conscience comes into a person. Where one can contemplate weather one is actually doing “good.” Duty shows faithfulness and loyalty. These virtues help one to flourish as a qua individual. (Wilson, ch. 2 - 5)
The notion of a “universal aspiration” so far has not happened. It’s obvious that people will be fair, sympathetic, and dutiful to those close to them but to think that the whole world could be so perfect doesn’t seem likely. People are becoming more tolerant of one another, yet to be tolerant and to treat a stranger, as part of one’s family is two different things. The notion of a “universal aspiration” wouldn’t cost people but benefit. It would promote fairness and such virtues and make the human race stronger as a whole.
Humans are reasonable, virtuous, practical reasoners. People must realize this so their virtues will strength and all will benefit. With a stronger morality level people all over would benefit. People would relate to those that were most like them but there are some similarities in all people. There will always be a common ground that can be reached. When the common ground is reached and all are benefited the level of goodness rises and a person’s qua is raised. Something that may make people relate to each other would be if they had the same language. Since language explains the rationalization people have behind their actions if everyone understood each other then everyone would understand why others do what they do. There are things people are born with but there are other qualities and ideas people must learn. If societies adapted to each other they would be in good faith with each other since people are virtuous to those they are close to.
Adult humans are reasonable animals. To be reasonable one must be able to explain the reasons for doing something. With the ability to reason comes the ability to make choices. In the beginning of life there is no way for human animals to communicate therefore they are dependent on those that take care of them. Without a way of comprehensible communication babies may not be considered reasonable animals. “It is because without language…” (MacIntyre, p.53) When youths can rationalize greater goods with different actions they seem to be becoming reasonable animals. “Human infants… have prelinguistic reasons for actions…” (MacIntyre, p.56) With no language the actions an infant makes to benefit its self are for a “quick fix.” Their ancestors may have developed the actions it makes. The actions that are considered impulsive could possibly be evolutionary. “…Served themselves and their offspring.” (Wilson, p.98) It seems as though animals are born with at least some sort of sense. There is more to an animal than it is born with though. If the only skills an animal possessed were the few it had inherited from its predecessors most animals would be incredibly inept. Also, if animals only had the skills and knowledge of those before them when was the first animal of each species? Animals adapt and learn throughout their lifetime. There is a certain amount of natural instincts one is born with but to survive in the ever-changing world animals make choices for their survival.
The human animal flourishes greatly throughout its life, depending on its surroundings. How much the human animal flourishes cannot be described exactly. The animal is created with an inner sense of good or a desire to flourish. Animals have goals. Each small goal leads to the accomplishment of a bigger goal. The final goal is the greatest good to the animal. Different animals have different greatest goods. To be truly good, qua, an animal must not only promote the greatest good for its self but for other animals around it. “It may well be best for me and for others…” (MacIntyre, p. 66) The measure and definition of what is good is different in all cultures. The only way to flourish is to analyze the situation at hand and choose the best choice for one’s self. “Human beings need to learn to understand themselves as practical reasoners…” (MacIntyre, p. 67) Human beings have to know what they want. There are things that influence humans such as friends, family, media, or anything outside of one’s self that presents new ideas or new ways of thinking. There are virtues one has that are a part of him or her self that also influence how he or she rationalizes and reasons. The virtues are sympathy, fairness, self-control, and duty. Each virtue has its own characteristics. One virtue that may not be as strong in the beginning of a human’s life is self-control. One must learn self-control. Self-control consists of manners, monitoring the intake of substances, and not acting on impulses. Children usually act on impulse at younger ages because they haven’t learned to control themselves and rationalize their actions. On the other hand, it seems most people are born with a sense of sympathy, fairness, and duty. Sympathy and fairness effect one’s qua, goodness. To be a qua person one must be sympathetic and fair to those around him or her. Both sympathy and fairness are virtues that show compassion towards others. Duty also shows compassion. Duty is the where conscience comes into a person. Where one can contemplate weather one is actually doing “good.” Duty shows faithfulness and loyalty. These virtues help one to flourish as a qua individual. (Wilson, ch. 2 - 5)
The notion of a “universal aspiration” so far has not happened. It’s obvious that people will be fair, sympathetic, and dutiful to those close to them but to think that the whole world could be so perfect doesn’t seem likely. People are becoming more tolerant of one another, yet to be tolerant and to treat a stranger, as part of one’s family is two different things. The notion of a “universal aspiration” wouldn’t cost people but benefit. It would promote fairness and such virtues and make the human race stronger as a whole.
Humans are reasonable, virtuous, practical reasoners. People must realize this so their virtues will strength and all will benefit. With a stronger morality level people all over would benefit. People would relate to those that were most like them but there are some similarities in all people. There will always be a common ground that can be reached. When the common ground is reached and all are benefited the level of goodness rises and a person’s qua is raised. Something that may make people relate to each other would be if they had the same language. Since language explains the rationalization people have behind their actions if everyone understood each other then everyone would understand why others do what they do. There are things people are born with but there are other qualities and ideas people must learn. If societies adapted to each other they would be in good faith with each other since people are virtuous to those they are close to.