I think it is not productive to analyze anything as being moral by comparing it to working for money for bed nets. Most everything fails.
I think I might have made a mistake in saying this was a moral issue. I think it is more of an identity issue. I the the consequences for the world of me being Unitarian are minimal. Most of the effect is on me. I think the more accurate questions I am trying to answer are:
Are Unitarians good under my morals? Do their shared values agree with mine enough that I should identify as being one?
I think the reason this is not a instrumental issue for me, and rather an epistemic issue, is because I believe the fact that I will continue to go to congregation is already decided. It is a fun bonding time which sparks lots of interesting philosophical discussion. If I were not in my current relationship, I would probably bring that question back on the table.
I realize that this does not change the fact that the answer is heavily dependent on my moral system, so I will try to comment on that with things that are specific to UU.
I generally agree with the 7 principles of UU, with far more emphasis on “A free and responsible search for truth and meaning.” However, these principles are not particularly controversial, and I think most people would agree with most of them. The defining part of UU, I think, is the strategy of “Let’s agree to disagree on the metaethics and metaphysics, and focus on the morals themselves which are what matters.” I feel like this could be a good thing to do some of the time. Ignore the things that we don’t understand and agree on, and work on making the world better using the values we do understand and agree on. However, I am concerned that perhaps the UU philosophy is not just to ignore the metaethics and metaphysics temporarily so we can work together, but rather to not care about these issues and not be bothered by the fact that we appear confused. This I do not approve of. These are important questions, and you don’t know if what you don’t know can’t hurt you.
They are important because they are confusing. Of all the things that might possibly cause a huge change to my decision making, I think understanding open questions about anthropic reasoning is probably at the top of the list. I potentially lose a lot by not pushing these topics further.
Of all the things that might possibly cause a huge change to my decision making, I think understanding open questions about anthropic reasoning is probably at the top of the list.
For most people I don’t think that meta ethical considerations have a huge effect on their day to day decision making.
Metaphysics seems interesting. Do you think that you might start believing in paranormal stuff if you spend more effort on investigating metaphysical questions? What other possible changes in your metaphysical position could you imagine that would have a huge effects on your decision making?
I potentially lose a lot by not pushing these topics further.
Going to UU won’t stop you from discussing those concepts on LessWrong.
I’m personally part of diverse groups and don’t expect any one group to fulfill all my needs.
I do not think that I will start believing in paranormal stuff. I do not know what changes might arise from changes in my metaphysical position. I was not trying to single out these things as particularly important as much as I am just afraid of all things that I don’t know.
Going to UU won’t stop you from discussing those concepts on LessWrong.
I’m personally part of diverse groups and don’t expect any one group to fulfill all my needs.
This is good advice. My current picture of UU is that it has a lot of problems, most of which are not problems for me personally, since I am also a rational person and in LW. I think UU and LW are the only groups which I am actively a part of other than my career. I wonder what other viewpoints I am missing out on.
Wouldn’t it be nice if I understood that?
I think it is not productive to analyze anything as being moral by comparing it to working for money for bed nets. Most everything fails.
I think I might have made a mistake in saying this was a moral issue. I think it is more of an identity issue. I the the consequences for the world of me being Unitarian are minimal. Most of the effect is on me. I think the more accurate questions I am trying to answer are:
Are Unitarians good under my morals? Do their shared values agree with mine enough that I should identify as being one?
I think the reason this is not a instrumental issue for me, and rather an epistemic issue, is because I believe the fact that I will continue to go to congregation is already decided. It is a fun bonding time which sparks lots of interesting philosophical discussion. If I were not in my current relationship, I would probably bring that question back on the table.
I realize that this does not change the fact that the answer is heavily dependent on my moral system, so I will try to comment on that with things that are specific to UU.
I generally agree with the 7 principles of UU, with far more emphasis on “A free and responsible search for truth and meaning.” However, these principles are not particularly controversial, and I think most people would agree with most of them. The defining part of UU, I think, is the strategy of “Let’s agree to disagree on the metaethics and metaphysics, and focus on the morals themselves which are what matters.” I feel like this could be a good thing to do some of the time. Ignore the things that we don’t understand and agree on, and work on making the world better using the values we do understand and agree on. However, I am concerned that perhaps the UU philosophy is not just to ignore the metaethics and metaphysics temporarily so we can work together, but rather to not care about these issues and not be bothered by the fact that we appear confused. This I do not approve of. These are important questions, and you don’t know if what you don’t know can’t hurt you.
Why are metaphysics important?
Why are metaethics important?
They are important because they are confusing. Of all the things that might possibly cause a huge change to my decision making, I think understanding open questions about anthropic reasoning is probably at the top of the list. I potentially lose a lot by not pushing these topics further.
For most people I don’t think that meta ethical considerations have a huge effect on their day to day decision making.
Metaphysics seems interesting. Do you think that you might start believing in paranormal stuff if you spend more effort on investigating metaphysical questions? What other possible changes in your metaphysical position could you imagine that would have a huge effects on your decision making?
Going to UU won’t stop you from discussing those concepts on LessWrong.
I’m personally part of diverse groups and don’t expect any one group to fulfill all my needs.
I do not think that I will start believing in paranormal stuff. I do not know what changes might arise from changes in my metaphysical position. I was not trying to single out these things as particularly important as much as I am just afraid of all things that I don’t know.
This is good advice. My current picture of UU is that it has a lot of problems, most of which are not problems for me personally, since I am also a rational person and in LW. I think UU and LW are the only groups which I am actively a part of other than my career. I wonder what other viewpoints I am missing out on.