OK. Given that, I’m pretty sure I’ve understood you; thanks for clarifying.
For my own part, it seems to me that when I do that, my behavior is in large part motivated by the belief that it’s good to avoid strong emotional responses to events, which is just as much a moral belief as any other.
For my own part, it seems to me that when I do that, my behavior is in large part motivated by the belief that
it’s good to avoid strong emotional responses to events, which is just as much a moral belief as any other.
There are situations where emotions need to be temporarily suppressed—it needn’t involve a moral belief. Getting angry could simply be unhelpful at that moment so you suppress it. To do so, you don’t need to believe that its inherently wrong to express strong emotions.
That particular moral would come with its disadvantages. If someone close to you dies, it is healthier to express your sorrow than avoid it. Some people don’t change their behavior unless you express anger.
Many think that morality is necessary to control the evil impulses of humans, as if its removal would mean we’d all suddenly start randomly killing each other. Far from saving us from suffering, I’m inclined to think moral beliefs have actually caused much suffering: for example, some religious belief is evil, some political belief is evil, some ethnic group is evil.
I agree with you that there are situations where suppressing emotions is a useful way of achieving some other goal, and that choosing to suppress emotions in those situations doesn’t require believing that there’s anything wrong with expressing strong emotions, and that choosing to suppress emotions in those situations without such a belief doesn’t require any particular moral belief.
I agree with you that the belief that expressing strong emotions is wrong has disadvantages.
I agree with you that many people have confused beliefs about morality.
I agree with you that much suffering has been caused by moral beliefs, some more so than others.
OK. Given that, I’m pretty sure I’ve understood you; thanks for clarifying.
For my own part, it seems to me that when I do that, my behavior is in large part motivated by the belief that it’s good to avoid strong emotional responses to events, which is just as much a moral belief as any other.
There are situations where emotions need to be temporarily suppressed—it needn’t involve a moral belief. Getting angry could simply be unhelpful at that moment so you suppress it. To do so, you don’t need to believe that its inherently wrong to express strong emotions.
That particular moral would come with its disadvantages. If someone close to you dies, it is healthier to express your sorrow than avoid it. Some people don’t change their behavior unless you express anger.
Many think that morality is necessary to control the evil impulses of humans, as if its removal would mean we’d all suddenly start randomly killing each other. Far from saving us from suffering, I’m inclined to think moral beliefs have actually caused much suffering: for example, some religious belief is evil, some political belief is evil, some ethnic group is evil.
We seem to be largely talking past each other.
I agree with you that there are situations where suppressing emotions is a useful way of achieving some other goal, and that choosing to suppress emotions in those situations doesn’t require believing that there’s anything wrong with expressing strong emotions, and that choosing to suppress emotions in those situations without such a belief doesn’t require any particular moral belief.
I agree with you that the belief that expressing strong emotions is wrong has disadvantages.
I agree with you that many people have confused beliefs about morality.
I agree with you that much suffering has been caused by moral beliefs, some more so than others.