I’ve read up (possibly superficially?) on many ethical systems or at least viewpoints on ethics. But it seems that, once you reach the sphere of actions I can actually undertake in my daily life, almost none of the prescriptive claims given or derived from these systems differ.
It’s almost like the systems are just compressions (if that) of a standard set.
There are countless actions that we do every moment which would be considered “ethical” since they put us closer to a position from which we can better pursue and act rightfully in those few “important” cases.
I think that some of those people would give you a straight answer (and possibly point out/try to recruit you for the things they are focusing on today, and why).
“The most important thing to do, is to pick a path, and get started. Apply yourself and you can do anything well.”
“Different people have different talents, try them out and see what you’re good at.”
“You don’t have to do one. If you can volunteer at the shelter, and get there by walking/cycling/etc., then that’s two at once. If you do multiple things, then if some of them don’t pan out, one of the other things will.”
“People come up with complicated ‘reasons’ that what they want to do is the morally correct answer. Take the most direct route—volunteer at that shelter. Once you’re connected with people who need help, you’re in a position to solve problems they do have, and get feedback. The people most in need of help are where you should focus.”
“What’s important isn’t guesses at utility, or guessing at utility, it’s actual utility. Take the outside view—do people spending time trying to figure out the best thing to do, tend to figure it out and do more good than people who start by doing something?”
Ethical systems hold no obvious solution for figuring out how actions add up over time, or for overcoming mental barriers to provide us with more willpower.
Instead of ‘figuring it out’, they can pick an answer and tell people to do that. Coordinating joint efforts on one problem can do a lot of good, and create something that people can join.
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It’s almost like the systems are just compressions (if that) of a standard set.
I think that some of those people would give you a straight answer (and possibly point out/try to recruit you for the things they are focusing on today, and why).
“The most important thing to do, is to pick a path, and get started. Apply yourself and you can do anything well.”
“Different people have different talents, try them out and see what you’re good at.”
“You don’t have to do one. If you can volunteer at the shelter, and get there by walking/cycling/etc., then that’s two at once. If you do multiple things, then if some of them don’t pan out, one of the other things will.”
“People come up with complicated ‘reasons’ that what they want to do is the morally correct answer. Take the most direct route—volunteer at that shelter. Once you’re connected with people who need help, you’re in a position to solve problems they do have, and get feedback. The people most in need of help are where you should focus.”
“What’s important isn’t guesses at utility, or guessing at utility, it’s actual utility. Take the outside view—do people spending time trying to figure out the best thing to do, tend to figure it out and do more good than people who start by doing something?”
Instead of ‘figuring it out’, they can pick an answer and tell people to do that. Coordinating joint efforts on one problem can do a lot of good, and create something that people can join.
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