tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245381193993153721.post7961832933650347886..comments2024-03-28T17:08:15.784-07:00Comments on Social Democracy for the 21st Century: A Realist Alternative to the Modern Left: Thoughts on a Version of Consequentialist EthicsLord Keyneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06556863604205200159noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245381193993153721.post-54943292389112576202013-03-27T20:08:30.508-07:002013-03-27T20:08:30.508-07:00All that talk about "God wants something beca...All that talk about "God wants something because it is good" versus "it is good because God wants it" and not <i>one</i> mention of Euthyphro...Anoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245381193993153721.post-70994920787113056942013-03-27T05:49:21.249-07:002013-03-27T05:49:21.249-07:00Excellent post, and an excellent blog.
My respons...Excellent post, and an excellent blog.<br /><br />My response: <a href="http://barefootbum.blogspot.com/2013/03/pragmatism.html" rel="nofollow">Pragmatism</a>, a naturalistic, consequentialist, and loosely utilitarian meta-ethical philosophy.Larry Hamelinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08788697573946266404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245381193993153721.post-31011386075850087542013-03-26T20:11:09.426-07:002013-03-26T20:11:09.426-07:00Interesting to see this here - I have been deeply ...Interesting to see this here - I have been deeply concerned with consequentialist ethics in the social sciences more generally for some time (e.g., <a href="http://www.academia.edu/450970/Determinism_and_the_Antiquated_Deontology_of_the_Social_Sciences" rel="nofollow">Determinism and the Antiquated Deontology of the Social Sciences</a>, Clint Ballinger ) <br />Haven't had time to read this yet but look forward to it.Clint Ballingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16484643778860969972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245381193993153721.post-19114314865010409192013-03-26T19:51:08.570-07:002013-03-26T19:51:08.570-07:00regarding the addendum,
The key to the sentence ...regarding the addendum, <br /><br />The key to the sentence is the qualifier "normal." It is fine to classify the sentence as an imperative. Imperatives don't signify ethical good/evil; one deals with imperatives all the time such as "don't enter" or "stay off the grass." Breaking these imperatives doesn't constitute an evil act, because the imperative itself is a ethically subjective proposition, it is the command of one individual. An imperative that is not merely advanced by an individual but accepted by the majority of an entire community becomes a norm. If one plays a game to chess to lose, one may face negative consequences in terms of losing one's reputation. If one plays against any of the rules of society, one may face a number of negative consequences, including id-imposed guilt. But people in one society may call an act evil and feel guilt when committing it, whereas people in another society may call the same act acceptable and not feel guilt when committing it. Despite the commonplace usage, we cannot conflate norms with ethics.<br /><br />Whether there is an ethics independent of norms is a vital question...but a theory of ethics should not be confused with a theory of norms.<br /><br />Maimonides of the Andalusian era wrote that norms/morals evolve throughout history. The anthropological record makes this fact fairly undeniable. Specifically, he thought there was a true ethics, that is an objective value system of good/evil, that is determined by the will of God. However, humanity's ability to come to terms with this true ethics has developed throughout history. Each successive revelation on moral behavior passed on from God to man has brought man closer to God, and closer to this true ethics.<br /><br />One can accept this theory without sharing the theology; suppose that the evolution of morals approaches an objective ethical ideal as history develops, through non-divine processes.jack burdennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245381193993153721.post-57433900558343471472013-03-26T12:00:15.983-07:002013-03-26T12:00:15.983-07:00Wow! I'm bookmarking this post ASAP for future...Wow! I'm bookmarking this post ASAP for future reference. You have outdone yourself, Lord Keynes. You should write more of these philosophy related posts, as you come across as someone who has done extensive academic work on the subject and possibly has some type of degree in the field.<br /><br />What is your opinion on logical positivism?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05166618601866526009noreply@blogger.com