I may be wrong about various things, but if I am, it's obviously out of ignorance, not malice. I assume the same is true of everyone. — Mongrel
Further, there are opportunities that will be lost where belief itself is put on trial. In order to engage others in an exchange of ideas, it will be necessary to allow free expression. — Mongrel
Do the connotations of 'wrong' mean that most people are unable to effectively differentiate the two. Is there any real distinction between wrong as a matter of fact and wrong in a moral sense? — Barry Etheridge
Can people help what they believe? If not can they be held morally responsible for beliefs that are wrong (in either sense)? Clearly if they act on those beliefs in manners which break the law they can and must be held legally responsible but, morally responsible? — Barry Etheridge
Is belief changeable? — Barry Etheridge
If not is there any point to condmenation or protest of beliefs? If so, are we just replacing one brainwashing with another albeit one with the official stamp of approval from the Good Belief Advisory Council? — Barry Etheridge
Is there not a sense in which all belief - good, bad, or indifferent - is morally questionable, given that it must involve at least some conclusions based on facts not in evidence? — Barry Etheridge
Are you asking whether it can be immoral to hold beliefs that immoral acts are good, such as, for example, that it is good to rape and murder infants? — John
Or are you asking whether it can be immoral to hold certain beliefs that are not themselves beliefs about moral or ethical matters at all? — John
The belief itself is OK, but the prejudice, discrimination, antagonism and/or contempt that goes along with it isn't. — Ovaloid
I agree that beliefs can't be inherently good or evil. I say that because I believe morality is about actions, not beliefs (Jesus disagreed with that... but oh, well.) — Mongrel
It's not a category error to categorise beliefs as good or bad. — Sapientia
Unless a) morality requires a choice and b) we don't choose what to believe. — Michael
Re the comments about beliefs, I'm not of the view that any beliefs, or even any speech, is morally wrong. — Terrapin Station
I'd like to clarify: I meant matter-of-fact beliefs not attitudes.The belief itself is OK, but the prejudice, discrimination, antagonism and/or contempt that goes along with it isn't. — Ovaloid
What about the classic example of shouting 'fire!' in a crowded theatre?I'm not of the view that any beliefs, or even any speech, is morally wrong. — Terrapin Station
Freedom in what ideas can be expressed, freedom in how they are expressed, neither or both?Further, there are opportunities that will be lost where belief itself is put on trial. In order to engage others in an exchange of ideas, it will be necessary to allow free expression. — Mongrel
I'd like to clarify: I meant matter-of-fact beliefs not attitudes. — Ovaloid
What about the classic example of shouting 'fire!' in a crowded theatre? — Ovaloid
Freedom in what ideas can be expressed, freedom in how they are expressed, neither or both?
I think yes about what ideas can be expressed but not about how they are expressed. I think it's good to moderate heated comments. — Ovaloid
So, you are asking whether beliefs that are not acted upon can be immoral? — John
So, you are asking whether beliefs that are not acted upon can be immoral? Say someone believed that it was good to rape and murder infants; are you asking whether that belief is immoral even if the believer does not act on it, by for example raping and murdering infants or exhort others to do so? — John
And this is reflected in UK law. — Sapientia
Is that even possible? Surely belief cannot ever be separated from action. At the very least, belief must moderate behaviour or it's not a genuine belief at all. If I believe that cuckoo clocks are a major health hazard, can I nevertheless enter a clock shop with complete ease? If I believe that atheists are going to Hell, can I have any kind of relationship with one that is completely unaffected? — Barry Etheridge
It's a very scratched, dull, and cracked mirror then! — Barry Etheridge
So what's the difference between being morally responsible for having a false moral belief and not being morally responsible? What are the determining factors? — Michael
Then can you give me an example of an immoral false moral belief and a not-immoral false moral belief? — Michael
The former is morally wrong on two accounts: the irresponsibility of the agent as well as the belief itself; and the latter is morally wrong on just one: the belief itself. — Sapientia
No, I meant that the content of the belief is immoral, but it is not immoral to have it under those circumstances. — Sapientia
OK, so you're drawing a distinction between a person being immoral and a belief being immoral such that a person can have an immoral belief but not be immoral? — Michael
Then to rephrase my original question: you're suggesting that a false moral belief is immoral? — Michael
Get involved in philosophical discussions about knowledge, truth, language, consciousness, science, politics, religion, logic and mathematics, art, history, and lots more. No ads, no clutter, and very little agreement — just fascinating conversations.