So hard work... yes, you can work hard, and it would not harm anyone if everyone would work hard, but what if some people worked hard and some did not? You say that violates the law of fairness (do not cheat others in a way you would not want to be cheated), but there is a hitch here: some people do not mind working harder than others. And some others enjoy freeloading. This now enters the realm of personal taste and personal view, subjective judgment: do I mind working harder than others, or do I mind if others work harder than I? The answer to these two questions are not universal by everyone. And basically here you cited universality. — god must be atheist
One must work hard, because if one does not work hard was universalized, no one would work hard and living itself would be difficult. One cannot judge without being alive, thus a contradiction (of sorts). — schopenhauer1
Added more to last post. — schopenhauer1
I'm not sure of this, but don't you have the idea of the categorical imperative backwards? Isn't it the positive behavior that is universalized as an obligation? I think that makes a difference, doesn't it? — T Clark
Because the CI only makes statements about positive actions (only do anything if everyone also did it would not make the world worse), but it does not make statements on the lack of action (don't do anything that would harm the world if everyone did it.) Because EVERYONE doing it would harm the world, but SOME doing it would not harm the world. — god must be atheist
So are you both saying "inaction" does not itself count as an action? How about if I said, "The action of not working hard".. "If everyone did other than working hard...". Is there a way that's acceptable? Maybe I'm not getting the meaning of "positive behavior" or where he says that as opposed to "not doing". — schopenhauer1
the work hard obligation would only be applicable in situations where hard work is needed. — T Clark
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