Hence, people say things like "I have ruined my life," or complain that "my life has become meaningless to me." — Count Timothy von Icarus
It's also clear that "what is good," is generally not obvious. People often make choices that, upon later analysis, they decide were bad. "If I only knew then what I know now," etc. — Count Timothy von Icarus
The nihilist might say, "but there is no Good, so any search is doomed." However, it's hard to see how they can know this from the outset. — Count Timothy von Icarus
No one buys a car without any consideration of if it is a "good car." — Count Timothy von Icarus
Think about it this way: people don't knowingly want to believe falsehoods. People are often upset with what the truth reveals itself to be. They might even prefer to not know the details of certain specific truths. — Count Timothy von Icarus
If Aristotle is correct, and there is an identifiable purpose to human life that can effectively guide us to happiness and flourishing, who would want to remain ignorant of this fact? It seems like everyone would want to know it. But then certain virtues are required for exploring this question effectively. — Count Timothy von Icarus
Likewise, if the Good reduces to personal preference, it is still true that we can make better or worse choices relative to this deflated Good. — Count Timothy von Icarus
But I am not sure how you plausibly explain the development of the natural philosophy into the modern scientific method or mathematical proofs being emotion "all the way down." It doesn't seem like any methodology for solving problems should be any better than any other in this case — all claims about methodology would reduce to emotional preferences. — Count Timothy von Icarus
Isn't the "mustn't" there an ought statement? But wouldn't this just be an expression of emotion? Or something to the effect of "I am fine with people discussing things so long as it is frivolous. But no one can make meaningful decisions about how society works unless their position agrees with my view." — Count Timothy von Icarus
You haven't met my wife. She buys cars based on the colour. Good is something she can't even conceptualise when it comes to cars.
I think Aristotle may not be right about this.
Well only subject to some criteria of value.
I am skeptical of the notion that people are completely indifferent to the status of their own intellect, such that they can honestly I say things like: "I hope my core beliefs are fundamentally flawed and that I blunder through my life in ignorance. I also sincerely hope that I will never know what will lead me to happiness, but rather I wish to remain ignorant of this. I hope my intellect is profoundly stunted such that I really never understand what is going on around me." — Count Timothy von Icarus
But if we've made ourselves miserable, then we clearly haven't chosen well. — Count Timothy von Icarus
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