Ethics class in the morning. As my first official philosophy class, I really enjoy it. The conversations are really interesting, and the different perspectives have really furthered my understanding. Part of me feels almost guilty when I'm in ethics class, because I don't have a concrete ethics system. Obviously this is irrational as a concrete ethical system isn't super common, but I wish I had guidelines that I could compare new philosophies to. Sure I have my gut feeling, but it's different.
@tfj IMO the good thing about having a concrete ethics system, or general principles that you operate based on, is that it's easier to evaluate whether you're judging different people consistently
@sonya 100% agree. Consistency is a huge deal to me in ethics (and in general). If you're not applying theories and process consistently, then you're doing something illogical. Most likely letting emotion trump reason.
Or in Plato's terms, letting the horse drive the chariot.
@tfj Yesss. I am not perfect at this, but I do try hard.
@sonya If you don't mind me asking; do you have a consistent, concrete approach to ethics?
@tfj (brb making dinner, will respond in a bit. I have lots to say on this)
@tfj Actually I have a minute now. So, my ethics are a bit meta. I'm a moral relativist, in the sense that I think saying someone is "right" or "wrong" only makes sense when you're referring to a specific framework. There's no objective rightness or wrongness — those are always defined in terms of a viewpoint. 1/?
@tfj I also think that most people are doing their best to create the world that they think will be most beneficial to everyone. In other words, I disagree with people often, but I default to trusting their motives. My judgment is that sociopaths and psychopaths are rare (not nonexistent, but definitely not the norm).
@tfj Some of these principles run counter to my personality, so I have to fight to get myself to uphold them. But I think it's worth it. (fin)
@sonya @lieselotte isn't she?
@tfj @lieselotte y'all are gonna make me blush! <3
@sonya I can relate to this. I have very low empathy, but logically I recognize that human life is good, therefore I need to remind myself that empathizing with human life is a goal I want to work towards.
Goal is bad word choice, but now I /really do/ need to sleep xD I could probably go on all night and end up missing class.
I will be happy to continue this conversation in the morning.
@sonya Did you naturally arrive upon this understanding? Or did it take some time for you to place it all out on the table and sort through the bullshit? I think I may have to do the latter before I am lucky enough to have a concrete ethical belief.
My problem is I agree with bits and pieces of lots of different philosophies. I think what I need to do is start with an intrinsic good and just branch out with ethical responses that are consistent to that intrinsic good.
@tfj it took a looooong time for me to come to a position that I could articulate, even just in broad strokes! the blog Slate Star Codex was really helpful to me — if you're interested, I recommend starting here: http://slatestarcodex.com/about/
good night! good talk :) <3
@tfj I also believe in the Golden Rule. Establishing norms that benefit everyone, and that incentivize people to cooperate rather than defect (in the Prisoner's Dilemma and other coordination problems), will end up benefiting everyone.
Lastly, I'm a consequentialist. I think that being effective in achieving the goal of less suffering is more important than being "right"