RE: Religion is a poor source of morality
October 9, 2015 at 9:36 pm
(This post was last modified: October 9, 2015 at 9:39 pm by robvalue.)
I'd still say the answers are subjective to particular goals.
One choice may be better for the survival of the species, one may be better for overall happiness, one may be better for a balance of personal freedom and safety... To try and answer all these questions at once requires weighing each of them as relatively important; or just announcing one as the only important one. To say there is a correct way to weigh each them is problematic.
Maybe we could agree that morality is subjective for all practical purposes, except in trivial scenarios. If there are these amazing answers, we don't have access to them, neither will we probably ever. They would require absolute knowledge of everything, to perfectly maximise even one aspect of wellbeing.
So really, it's a useless concept in practical terms, no better than common sense combined with application of scientific knowledge.
The thing that strikes me the most is the importance of as many true (and as few false) beliefs as possible. The better people's models are of reality, the closer their outcomes will match their intentions. Assuming they intend to do good, of course. If they intend to do bad, a poor understanding may be a good thing.
One choice may be better for the survival of the species, one may be better for overall happiness, one may be better for a balance of personal freedom and safety... To try and answer all these questions at once requires weighing each of them as relatively important; or just announcing one as the only important one. To say there is a correct way to weigh each them is problematic.
Maybe we could agree that morality is subjective for all practical purposes, except in trivial scenarios. If there are these amazing answers, we don't have access to them, neither will we probably ever. They would require absolute knowledge of everything, to perfectly maximise even one aspect of wellbeing.
So really, it's a useless concept in practical terms, no better than common sense combined with application of scientific knowledge.
The thing that strikes me the most is the importance of as many true (and as few false) beliefs as possible. The better people's models are of reality, the closer their outcomes will match their intentions. Assuming they intend to do good, of course. If they intend to do bad, a poor understanding may be a good thing.
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Quickstart guide to the forum


