[Argh. Cannibal. But argh. Philosophical moral talk. Philosophy makes for grabby hands.]
I'm not a subscriber to group morality. I was taught that each individual should, as you said, form their own morality. Not so that they would follow an empty ideal, or be ignorant of moral character altogether. But beliefs formed through observation, education, and experience hold more significance than those impressed by convention.
Therefore, my moral arguments may be agreed upon. Or they may not be, based upon the fact I'm an inmate. The only reason I have for them to be accepted is for me to exist as part of a community and a social group.
I believe that depends. A person is an individual, and if stripping that morality compromises what makes that person proud of who they are, then they shouldn't. They should maintain their morality, and use it to the best of their ability.
But if someone is part of a society that they largely approve of, save one or two exceptions, perhaps they can reconsider their perceptions.
A deeply thought compromise. The approach interests me. I suppose that it would require constant renegotiation on a certain level, but the same could be said of interpersonal relationships.
My, my my. What a weak attempt to control the conversation through dismissal. It's not very impressive. Perhaps you should stay out of intellectual discussions until you've matured sufficiently to address the topic at hand.
Individual advancement, so long as that advancement does not cause another individual to be deprived of basic necessities, is the highest goal of the Spacer worlds.
[Vasilia is not so much defensive as pre-emptively hostile. Her paranoia tells her that everyone must and will disagree and attack her and she addresses them, unconsciously, accordingly.]
It is the spoken and unspoken moral center of us. We will co-operate in our research when the need is dire, and no one of us would allow a fellow Spacer to starve, as it is the surplus of resources that allows our society to thrive, and that infrastructure that we will co-operate to maintain. The fourth principal of this planet you mention, compassion, can surely be understood as 'enlightened self interest', and yet I hear such sentimentality attached to it!
The Japanese are a rather sentimental race, yes. Enlightened self-interest is an interesting redefinition, however. If one's sense of self includes one's interdependence with others, it is I suppose a very logical progression.
The more the human race moves beyond need, the less interdependent we need be on one another. Earth is still gripped with a shortage of resources; the taboos and social mores are thick and complex. On a Spacer world there are fewer taboos, and they are more focused on the comfort of the individual.
I return life debts...other than that, my morals aren't terribly firm. I think all can agree that murder is wrong, at least most of the time, but it's hardly practical. It's wrong to bully those weaker than oneself.
Comments 120
I'm not a subscriber to group morality. I was taught that each individual should, as you said, form their own morality. Not so that they would follow an empty ideal, or be ignorant of moral character altogether. But beliefs formed through observation, education, and experience hold more significance than those impressed by convention.
Therefore, my moral arguments may be agreed upon. Or they may not be, based upon the fact I'm an inmate. The only reason I have for them to be accepted is for me to exist as part of a community and a social group.
Reply
Reply
But if someone is part of a society that they largely approve of, save one or two exceptions, perhaps they can reconsider their perceptions.
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
[Private]
Who is this child making a pest of himself in my nice discussion? He doesn't seem to do anything but whine and try to contradict people.
Reply
He is intellectually confrontational and predisposed to the use of chemical weapons.
Reply
Reply
[Vasilia is not so much defensive as pre-emptively hostile. Her paranoia tells her that everyone must and will disagree and attack her and she addresses them, unconsciously, accordingly.]
It is the spoken and unspoken moral center of us. We will co-operate in our research when the need is dire, and no one of us would allow a fellow Spacer to starve, as it is the surplus of resources that allows our society to thrive, and that infrastructure that we will co-operate to maintain. The fourth principal of this planet you mention, compassion, can surely be understood as 'enlightened self interest', and yet I hear such sentimentality attached to it!
Reply
[Nope, no hostility here yet. He's too polite.]
Reply
Reply
I assume that you have a preference for spacing worlds?
Reply
That's honestly all I can think of.
Reply
To be completely honest I think I prefer men of your power to be honorable and to dislike bullies.
Reply
Reply
Reply
Leave a comment