Comments

  • Objective Morality: Testing for the existence of objective morality.
    I just really can't fathom the jist of your criticism.god must be atheist

    Generally everything stated here; some might call it the justification you provided. Is in error. I put the most absurd part in bold. You are using validity in a nonsensical way. I've pointed out the same issue 4 times to evasion and confusion. I believe that demonstrated a respectful level of patience. I can't fathom explaining it again, so let me know how it works out for you. At a much later time and date; lifetime would be fine. Good day.
    They are equally valid in two groups: valid for one group with one set of answers, and valid for the other group with a different set of answers. The validity is decided on whom the answer vindicates morally. To one group those questions will be valid that morally vindicate them; to the other group, conversely so.god must be atheist
  • Objective Morality: Testing for the existence of objective morality.
    No problem. The 'they' was a glaring deficiency in your approach, so it was easy to remember. You stated twice I didn't understand it, but what you meant was I didn't agree with the conclusion that it implies morality is arbitrary to perspective. Then, you seem to have misplaced it.
  • Objective Morality: Testing for the existence of objective morality.
    ↪Cheshire I am now confused. I can't identify what you mean by "they". But it's not your fault... my mind is going, I can't mentally encompass a great number of data items that require short-term memory recall. Sorry, again, it is clearly my fault and my problem.god must be atheist
    Your demonstration of multi-sided ethics via a soccer gain result.
    Referenced Here:
    They are equally valid in two groups: valid for one group with one set of answers, and valid for the other group with a different set of answers. The validity is decided on whom the answer vindicates morally. To one group those questions will be valid that morally vindicate them; to the other group, conversely so.god must be atheist
    Originating Here:
    If my soccer team wins by one goal where the referee did not punish my team for being off side, then it's not a moral sin for the followers of my team, but it is for the opposing team.god must be atheist
  • Objective Morality: Testing for the existence of objective morality.
    Note that here with your notion of moral objectivism, you're already taking for granted that certain acts are moral, while others are immoral.baker
    I'm taking for granted that I seem to believe it without any trouble. The OP was basically this assertion followed by But, I can't account for how this could be; because every case seems to be about an observer.
    But on the grounds of what did you establish that a certain act is moral to begin with? Your gut feeling?baker
    The ground that my perception of what is moral is accurate. But, I don't know why. It isn't compelling, but near universally understood. So much so we test our moral theories against an understood intuitive moral standard. Or unuttered theory. Then, expect the same from others without explanation. The thread was meant to test for the experience being real or an illusion of sorts. So far it's moderately inconclusive.
  • Objective Morality: Testing for the existence of objective morality.
    If you're asking if there is something objective about an immoral act, I would say there is, viz., the harm done. So, for example, if I cut someone's arm off for no good reason, then I've committed an immoral act by definition.Sam26

    There's also attempted Armacide. It's immoral from the intention to harm, but lacks the objective existence of it. Would this still qualify as a property and maintain an objective sense?
  • Objective Morality: Testing for the existence of objective morality.
    Then defending yourself with equal force is immoral?Harry Hindu
    You derived self defense from the refutation of the following statement about genocide/slavery.
    Really? What if you're committing genocide/slavery against another group that is committing genocide/slavery against your own group? Many in today's political environment argue that killing or imprisoning your political opponents is a good thing.Harry Hindu

    I thought you were going to twist the political killing statement, but you pivoted. What's the tactic here anyway? Make a wide indefensible statement and hope the counter-argument over reaches at an easy target? I bet it works, but it's pretty annoying.

    Genocide and slavery are not legitimate forms of self defense. So, there is no "defending yourself" that can be implied rationally. Rhetorically, you can ignore that if you like though; doesn't make for much of a philosophical position.
  • Objective Morality: Testing for the existence of objective morality.
    Really?Harry Hindu
    Yep.
    What if you're committing genocide/slavery against another group that is committing genocide/slavery against your own group?Harry Hindu
    Two groups are committing immoral acts.
    Many in today's political environment argue that killing or imprisoning your political opponents is a good thing.Harry Hindu
    Almost curious what you have to twist in order to support this assertion. No one is generally arguing it in the way you have presented it.
  • Objective Morality: Testing for the existence of objective morality.
    How are any of these the fault of relativism?Harry Hindu
    I don't know that you can actually blame a moral theory on an outcome(which is what I did to be fair). But, moral relativism would hold that there was a time or place these acts were permissible. Moral objectivism would argue they were never permissible. Intuitively they seem wrong regardless of when they occurred, so adhering to a system that permits acts(in hindsight) that are always wrong; implies a faulty system of ethics is available.
  • Referring to the unknown.
    Let's look at the "senses" of share at work here. We open the armagnac and share it - we might talk about sharing the experience of drinking.Banno
    The exception being Cilantro; for some people it tastes like soap. It oddly correlates with whether or not an individual can smell stink bugs. I want to say they identified a genetic marker. So, when the same interactions do produce non-trivial little men it is noted.
  • Objective Morality: Testing for the existence of objective morality.
    There is no objective morality plane and simpleMAYAEL
    Yes, I'm hoping for a binary result to be the product of my "test". Morality does often present as being subject to an individuals perception. If I was using a looks like a duck, quacks like a duck protocol; then rejecting objectivity outright would be a likely outcome. I think we do want it to be objective to validate how much emotional investment the subject entails. Wanting a particular answer too much can be a trap.
  • Why do these Legal Philosophy textbooks write 'differential' as an adjective, not 'different'?
    Different involves separate subjects, where as differential is variance in a single subject. Like, air pressure inside versus outside a balloon. Compared to a balloon and a signed leather bound first edition of the Count de Monte Cristo.
  • Objective Morality: Testing for the existence of objective morality.
    Sounds like a different meaning of "objective".hypericin

    It hints at being too literal. I meant the ability to establish morality without the perception of any person being injured. The painting is indifferent. Often, morality relies on the golden rules, suffering, means to ends, human relationships, etc. Here we've taken away the ability to measure a human reaction and still made a determination. So, it implies a person can act on the world in an immoral way. Ergo, morality exists beyond the human perception of it. It isn't something we made up in the sense that it isn't arbitrary; like the validity given to a preference.

    If the answers to the questions proved to be contradictory, then it would make a case to the contrary. At least, that was the assumption in trying to produce a test. I did have to insert myself hypothetically in order to make the determination, so there's plenty of counter argument to be made.
  • Objective Morality: Testing for the existence of objective morality.
    1. In general, yes. You are harming those who would have otherwise enjoyed and benefitted from the painting. And you are harming the painter, who invested part of their life in the creation.
    2. In this case, you are only harming yourself. If you hate the painting, destroy it.
    3. Here only the first harm of 1. applies, not necessarily the second.
    EdgarAllenDoh

    Thanks for addressing the OP. It's strange to me; if I was watching this event I wouldn't be thinking about the people that would never see it or the painter. I believe I would consider the act immoral based on the direct injury to the object. I think a momentary faux personhood by virtue of it's ability to possess and deliver meaning would be the subject of harm. In your answer to number 2, you dropped the painter. I was wondering why. Number 3 seems consistent.

    We know people can see other paintings and gleam comparable joy. If I can show that an immoral act can be against an object; then I've demonstrated an objective morality is more likely to exist?
  • Why are We Back-Peddling on Racial Color-Blindness?
    Color-blindness didn't work. It became a denial of separate experiences under the false promise of equity.
  • Arguments for livable minimum wage.
    The livable wage protects against the inefficient over production of unwanted goods. If your business doesn't generate enough value to sustain the people maintaining it, then it shouldn't exist anymore. We have ignored this and now have low quality food available at every other intersection by two or more manufacturers.
  • Referring to the unknown.
    It's like a raccoon-dog. Before checking; tell me if it's real.
  • Objective Morality: Testing for the existence of objective morality.
    If any of those invented concerns were the real reason why I did not like your question, I either would have said so, or admitted to them. But I don't admit to them, because... because the reason I did not like your question was that it revealed you did not get my point.god must be atheist

    You've said "did not get my point" a suspicious number of times. I asked if you meant they were all equally valid, which you confirmed. Which is not what, not getting a point means. It's like pontificating from a position that has no authority. I suppose that makes the activity less offensive .
  • Objective Morality: Testing for the existence of objective morality.
    The question I did not like because it showed you did not get my point. I never said because it was immoral. I never said because how it made me feel. I did not like it because -- you know. Because it revealed that you did not get my point.god must be atheist

    It seems to me you didn't like the question, because it implied I questioned the conclusion. Your point was to demonstrate that different people may assert different positions concerning the same 'moral' event. You proceed to show how each person's position is valid to them; and suppose they are justified in this validity. Simply, because it follows from their particular bias's surrounding the event.

    Which produces a bit of a hole in the system. We intuitively know a bias opinion is more likely to be in error. But, the idea you are putting forward suggests otherwise. Specifically, the notion that one's emotional reaction to a decision validates one's position. Which is absurd and demonstrated by the questions I asked. But, you couldn't point this out because it follows from the idea you are putting forward.
  • Objective Morality: Testing for the existence of objective morality.
    I don't see how. Smashing the painting would be morally wrong. It would be wrong because doing so would make you the kind of person who could destroy beautiful things without revulsion and removing that revulsion which prevents you from doing so could lead to suffering in future as you're no longer held back when feeling the urge to destroy something.Isaac

    I think this is a valid response. I could argue we have to reach a little to get to suffering, but it's well within reason. Thanks for the direct analysis.
  • Ethics explained to smooth out all wrinkles in current debates -- Neo-Darwinist approach
    You may be nostalgic about Kant and others, and rightfully so... their theories have become in one fell swoop archaic, inaccurate, should I say useless. This is not something that needs to be justified, I don't think. It is something that changes an entire industry of thinking: thinking about morality.god must be atheist

    Well, I've got a little philosophy cheat sheet. It says that if you think you've solved the entirety of a philosophical sub-category based on a single unrevised document then you are probably wrong. Ever heard of critical rationalism? It's designed to limit these types of 'misallocations' of perceived solvency.

    You missed the information content of this statement.
    Besides, Kant already did by identifying the difference in nature versus civilized context for moral decisions and he was tossed a sunder in the conclusion. You by proxy threw out your own idea.Cheshire
  • Referring to the unknown.
    I've found that a better question is to ask how the thing in itself is different from the thing.Banno
    When presented with a failing eye exam score the same issue is raised.
  • Ethics explained to smooth out all wrinkles in current debates -- Neo-Darwinist approach
    Since the two systems are now viewed, as per my treatise here, as similar but with also some nonequivalent elements or features of operation, obviously and in a logical way, not one system of philosophy can be found that applies to both equally. Hence, moral questions will never be subjected to a single, all-encompassing evaluation (and repair) system, since the amorphous nature of the acquired moral codes and the rigid system of the autonomous moral codes make that wholly impossible.god must be atheist
    We can and have made reasonable approximations. Being imperfect is not the same as without value.

    Imagine if I told you that anything can be understood from my point of view. Would that be evidence that I was correct? No, just consistent. I don't think dispensing with several thousand years worth of inquiry is justified because we can sort moral issues into two categories. Besides, Kant already did by identifying the difference in nature versus civilized context for moral decisions and he was tossed a sunder in the conclusion. You by proxy threw out your own idea.
  • Necessity and god
    Does paraconsistent logic give us a way to unbind god from logic?Banno
    In theory; it might. But, in practice it seems like people need to tie the existence of god to some part of their reality. It's why we keep getting new forms of creationism updated every few years. Because in practice theist have trouble imagining a world without a god being necessary for making it. You aren't a declared theist, so you can imagine a world without a god being necessary. The logic is regular consistent based on a belief in god.

    I think a god experience emerges from the world, so I don't hold god as being necessary.

    Or the obvious answer I suppose. If ever an alternative system of logic were needed to cope with
    with a matter; it would probably be the necessity of god, from an atheist position, under the supposition of an idealist model depicting the many worlds hypothesis, then this may be it. Stack anything high enough you'll need a taller crane.
  • Objective Morality: Testing for the existence of objective morality.
    They are equally valid in two groups: valid for one group with one set of answers, and valid for the other group with a different set of answers. The validity is decided on whom the answer vindicates morally. To one group those questions will be valid that morally vindicate them; to the other group, conversely so.god must be atheist
    Wouldn't this dissolve the meaning of the word "bias". We recognize the degree to which a person's interest can mistakenly be injected into their perception. It's the reason some decisions are made best by a neutral party. A bias decision shouldn't be as equally valid as an unbiased decision.

    I don't like that question, because it shows to me you haven't been getting my point.god must be atheist
    I was simply verifying your point. Proclaiming all positions equal simply because they are positions is rather bold. You did verify it in a qualified sense, so I wasn't too far off the trail. Is it an immoral question, because of how you feel? Why not?
  • Objective Morality: Testing for the existence of objective morality.
    All moral calculations contain some emotional reaction, but not all emotional reactions are part of moral calculations.god must be atheist
    Ok, what else is contained in a moral calculation.
  • Objective Morality: Testing for the existence of objective morality.
    That's just it; my examples showed that there is no neutral side in some moral questions. By the multitude of answers to the multitude of questions I aimed to demonstrate that any rationalization can be fabricated to support one's position.god must be atheist
    You are implying they are all equally valid?
  • Objective Morality: Testing for the existence of objective morality.
    That's just it. You could ask a number of things, and they could answer a number of things.god must be atheist
    Well, if I can approach a problem that shows a moral judgement can be reasoned from a neutral position; then it contradicts the notion that morality of a win is side dependent.

    How do you distinguish between an emotional reaction and moral calculation? If I am angry, does that mean some one did something wrong?
  • Objective Morality: Testing for the existence of objective morality.
    Seems contradictory. If anything can be framed by how much suffering it causes, then it seems to follow that every metric can be converted. All that's required is to measure the suffering caused by it's valence.Isaac
    The OP is available for confounding this demonstration.
  • Objective Morality: Testing for the existence of objective morality.
    That's just it: feelings are not universal over some particular action or event.god must be atheist
    Which is precisely why our legal system doesn't run on feelings. In theory at least.
    For example: One nation's celebration of victory over the overlords is a sad day in the life of the overlord. The victory is moral on one side of the fence, immoral on the other side.god must be atheist
    When converted to logical thought the question becomes is it morally ok to celebrate a military victory. Making decisions relative to an emotion alone isn't as reliable. When decisions are large enough people have to put forward some type of reasoning or risk being seen derelict of a duty for due diligence.

    Or take the crucifixion of Jesus. Christians decry and hate the decision by the Jewish leadership to crucify him; yet without the act, people of Jesus' followers would never be saved. So should Christians thank the Jews for killing their god, or hate them for it? Christians by-and-large chose the hate part.god must be atheist
    I think it's irrational to hold people accountable for being related to other people by 2000yrs just in any context; it's a very misguided concept. In this one; I would remind the interested party he was crucified by Romans and at least some of the account of it was probably written or added in transcription in Rome. Or if your religion makes you hate anyone, then get a new religion.

    If my soccer team wins by one goal where the referee did not punish my team for being off side, then it's not a moral sin for the followers of my team, but it is for the opposing team.god must be atheist
    Well, this is actually more significant. It sounds like happenstance of human error in regulating a game. I guess you could ask if it is immoral to enjoy a victory not fully earned?

    So, there are ways of taking things out of the subjective; but if your purpose is the opposite, then maybe I'm missing something.
  • Objective Morality: Testing for the existence of objective morality.
    Perhaps, a reasonable approximation is still in play?
  • Objective Morality: Testing for the existence of objective morality.
    1. You present a theory on something that we don't know what it is.god must be atheist
    Exactly, it's nearly impossible to disagree with that statement. I think the first step in testing a moral theory is presenting it. There are several different ones that are commonly understood.
    To decide something is immoral we only rely on our inner gut feelings. It can't be proven that it's immoral, while the emotional judgment is so strong that we are unilateral in the opinion -- without having a basic definition of it.god must be atheist
    Well, in this context of "testing a moral theory" we would be both comparing the "gut feeling" and the logical implications of the theory in question. In example, there are some that would suppose negative utilitarianism implies the removing of suffering people; by means other than reducing there suffering. I don't agree, but it is a vivid example of testing a moral theory.
    No, it's not flawed; and we are not basing our moral compass on theory, but on feelings.god must be atheist
    The desire to make a morally correct decision isn't flawed, but the basis for it may be. If the emotional feeling is in fact reliable, we should be able to put into words why one decision is in fact better than another.

    This can also be inferred from my paper.god must be atheist
    The style of making sweeping declarative statements that must feel self-evident does mirror some elements I found in the paper. I agree you aren't imagining the points you are making; but you may be missing some of the issues that come along with them. Thanks for the response.
  • Shortened version of theory of morality; some objected to the conversational style of my paper
    ↪praxis Oh, it's easy to explain, praxis. I think my theory congeals nicely and neatly, but from the point of view of you guys (both genders and the spectrum) I appear to be a monkey screamin' and jumpin' up-and-down in its cage, trying to get attention.god must be atheist

    General Advice
    I think you've identified the resistance and like you say it is the different points of a view. Statements that you may take for granted become roadblocks to the breath takingly critical audience that emerges on a philosophy forum. I would recommend removing as many roadblocks as possible and simply try to get the reader to understand what it is you see is most novel regarding your approach.

    What I think your main point is in the OP
    You believe that humans experience two types of moral experiences. I would agree, because I think humans are in fact composed of two minds that argue over competing needs. One type is a survival resource or danger response system and the other is an emotional empathetic system. You have noted that one is more automatic than the other and I also agree with this; because having a danger response system that does a lot of ruminating would be a liability. Further evidence could be drawn from the fact humans also have two distinct nervous system states. If this part is the basis for your thinking then start here; it's a neat idea with some science that makes it plausible.

    The roadblocks I would remove and reintroduce as needed.
    Morality eludes objective definition. Its definition relies on subjective experience, it avoids an objective definition.god must be atheist
    This point is a thread and half itself and it's not critical to understanding what you are trying to say. Remember we aren't proving anything at this point, but rather laying out what might be.
    Involuntary moral acts are pervasive among all societies, unchanged in required behaviour to the same triggers.god must be atheist
    Any universal statements become a target; the reflex to argue is strong with this crowd. Because arguing is fun.
    There is no subset of humanity of normal people who would violate the involuntary moral acts.god must be atheist
    Another universal.

    Universal statements are good because they imply a testable idea. One counter-example and the theory is busted. It's an under appreciated honest inclusion that will stop discourse in its tracks.

    No proof provided... this is a theory.god must be atheist
    I would open with this and maybe change theory to idea. An idea is just something to be understood. A theory entails tests and competition with other preferred theories.

    Let me know if I can clarify or elaborate on anything. I do think you have a novel track that is interesting enough to base a discussion on.
  • Objective Morality: Testing for the existence of objective morality.
    Incidentally, none of your sentences make sense to me, other than the last two. Don't take me wrong; I am not belittling you. It may be due to the fact that you're much more intelligent and deeper than I. I dunno. It could be mockery on your part, too, for all I know.god must be atheist

    No, it wasn't mockery I should have broken the post into two sections. The first was an attempt at some casual advice on herding cats to a thread via a style of OP. I appreciate the generous supposition, but I'm just smart enough to appreciate the things brilliant people do.
  • Why are We Back-Peddling on Racial Color-Blindness?
    And isn't there supposed to be a money trail between the hit man and who sends the hit man? Very poor analogy made here, but what would you expect from those driven by hate and not truth?Harry Hindu
    How do you ask about a money trail and then complain about an analogy? The criteria for an analogy isn't a one for one literal comparison. Why not just make a needless personal attack without injecting additional ignorance. It's too much of a give away.
  • What are the "Ordinary Language Philosphy" solutions to common philosophical problems?
    This is reserving judgment? What you see as resentment is perhaps a projection of jealousy (enough to want to trivialize OLP as only about words). Not being interested does not make you right.Antony Nickles
    I wouldn't defend that statement to be honest. I felt your interpretation of my localized use of a label over reached, so I demonstrated the phenomena. I'm under the assumption I'm wrong about the matter entirely. It's been the case in the past. I just keep waiting for evidence to emerge.
  • What are the "Ordinary Language Philosphy" solutions to common philosophical problems?
    I might put it that, in making a claim about what the implications are of the expressions of our concepts (how we qualify knowledge, intention, meaning), we are saying something; something important to the problems of philosophy. Calling it "language" philosophy is to assume that there is (always) a space between our words and our lives.Antony Nickles
    No it isn't. Calling it language philosophy implies it has a corner it ought stay in which it resents. It's titled with terms Language Philosophy in the OP. I respect that others see value in it, but to me it is a self gratifying form of attention deficit disorder which frustrates more than it informs. I'll reserve judgement as to whether that's about words or lives. It must be entertaining in some way I haven't experienced.
  • Objective Morality: Testing for the existence of objective morality.
    ↪Cheshire I'm only saying something can be wrong – incorrect, faulty, fails – for other than moral reasons. My reply to the OP only says that the questions posed are answered as morally wrong, as a negative utilitarian sees it, a person is harmed. That's all I've said about the OP.180 Proof

    I selected the case because I know how many systems rely on human suffering in order to make a determination. I thought eliminating this element would highlight something different or even new regarding morality. You have successfully confounded my attempt by insisting to judge it as if it were regarding human suffering. I don't have any traps set; people are more important than things; but damaging at least some things must carry a moral element. Consider things are destroyed for their lack of moral value; so the opposite should be true.
  • Objective Morality: Testing for the existence of objective morality.
    If a destructive act harms a sentient, it's usually morally wrong; otherwise, it could be wrong on non-moral (e.g. instrumental or aesthetic) grounds.180 Proof
    So, things can be wrong in a non-moral sense; and in this non-moral sense aesthetics are relevant.
    And I called into question taking for granted that "art ... has intrinsic value" in ethical terms.180 Proof
    I thought it was just a reflex to arguing with people in disagreement. An aesthetic ground is an intrinsic value in my understanding; which is subject to error. So, there is a separate non-morality system that includes right and wrong as it applies to things. If I am properly identifying the implications.

    Are you saying the OP fails to describe a moral decision?
  • Objective Morality: Testing for the existence of objective morality.
    I think that for one's moral stance to be strong, one has to believe that it's not merely one's own, subjective, partial, biased view, but that it intimately has something to do with "how things really are", ie. that it is objective, beyond mere subjectivity.baker
    Why does my lone perception carry less moral validity than some one's imagined consensus with the universe? I expect the opposite to be true. If I had to convince some one what they were doing was wrong then my system is probably in error. In terms of not feeling emotionally insecure in applying moral judgements a belief in a objective source is helpful. I suppose I have resistance to the subtext and mixed thoughts on the surface. The king and I think what your doing is wrong. It does feel better.
  • Objective Morality: Testing for the existence of objective morality.
    I strongly urge you (who ever YOU are) to read these papers. If you have a comment to make on the papers, please for god's own sake, leave the comment on those paper's forums, not here. This thread has enough exposure. My threads are ignored BIG time.god must be atheist

    People like their own ideas, so starting with a concluded matter that isn't pre-distributed is asking a lot. The most success I've had is when I truly don't have an answer, but rather a few premises. I hope that helps with the future attempts. In regards, to evolutionary pressures for morality; I think it is one of the most overlooked. It's been regulated to feminism by mistake or to some disservice. The idea that the preservation of relationships describes the basis for what is moral or immoral seems compelling to me. I'll take a read this evening. Cheers.