For that matter, I do not punish to transfer funds from healthy young males to impoverished old ladies who have not been stolen from
There are people who feel there is a moral imperative to do just that. Likewise, there is wide disagreement over what deserves punishment. An orthodox Jew, a Muslim, a Catholic, a Lutheran, a Communist, and a Vulcan walk into a bar… I’m sure we can all see the potential for punchlines.
You may punish action X which violates your preferences because you want to see people punished for action X. You could simultaneously choose not to punish action Y which violates your preferences, because for whatever reason you would prefer people not be punished for it. Others could disagree, and people often do disagree on what deserves punishment and what doesn’t.
Neither side in such a debate is objectively incorrect. Each would indeed prefer their position of punishment or non-punishment.
Neither side in such a debate is objectively incorrect.
And a moral realist, such as myself, thinks you are dead wrong about that. I have offered an objective criterion for choosing sides in the debate, as well as a justification for that criterion that is ultimately based on satisfying people’s preferences to the greatest extent possible. Yet you are unimpressed and go back to reciting your original opinions.
I have offered an objective criterion for choosing sides in the debate, as well as a justification for that criterion that is ultimately based on satisfying people’s preferences to the greatest extent possible.
I couldn’t find where you did this in the parents. Could you link or repeat?
Thanks. Interesting thread. It’s a nice hope. It makes me feel good to imagine that it works, and our alien overlords will therefore be fair :)
Not much for me hangs in the balance with this question. I already know that if I feel like I’m a good person, It feels good. But of course I’m interested in how this self-satisfaction lines up with how people are generally judged. I guess it would become crucial if I became more aggressive. Most people are really cautious (at least as far as their image goes).
There are people who feel there is a moral imperative to do just that. Likewise, there is wide disagreement over what deserves punishment. An orthodox Jew, a Muslim, a Catholic, a Lutheran, a Communist, and a Vulcan walk into a bar… I’m sure we can all see the potential for punchlines.
You may punish action X which violates your preferences because you want to see people punished for action X. You could simultaneously choose not to punish action Y which violates your preferences, because for whatever reason you would prefer people not be punished for it. Others could disagree, and people often do disagree on what deserves punishment and what doesn’t.
Neither side in such a debate is objectively incorrect. Each would indeed prefer their position of punishment or non-punishment.
And a moral realist, such as myself, thinks you are dead wrong about that. I have offered an objective criterion for choosing sides in the debate, as well as a justification for that criterion that is ultimately based on satisfying people’s preferences to the greatest extent possible. Yet you are unimpressed and go back to reciting your original opinions.
Oh well. I tried. HAND.
I couldn’t find where you did this in the parents. Could you link or repeat?
Whoops. You are right. I made this proposal here and here and in the discussions that followed.
Thanks. Interesting thread. It’s a nice hope. It makes me feel good to imagine that it works, and our alien overlords will therefore be fair :)
Not much for me hangs in the balance with this question. I already know that if I feel like I’m a good person, It feels good. But of course I’m interested in how this self-satisfaction lines up with how people are generally judged. I guess it would become crucial if I became more aggressive. Most people are really cautious (at least as far as their image goes).