Ignorance. I may think I understand their minds, but that does not prove that I do understand their minds.
All you know is that you have a mental model of their minds which seems credible to you. Have you tested this model, and if so, how?
All I am reasonably sure of is that they did not see their act as evil and cowardly. Doubtless the same was true of Jack the Ripper and the Boston Strangler, but that tells me nothing about the differences between them and everyone else. After all, I only think that is true of them is because it seems to be true of most people.
That’s really an interesting question. What about the ones who really ARE insane psychopaths? Do they think they are doing the right thing, or do they really just not care?
I’m inclined toward the latter, actually. I’ve read some of Stalin’s journals, where he says things like “What is efficient is good. What is inefficient is bad.” That sounds like he literally doesn’t understand what morality MEANS to ordinary, non-psychopathic people.
Sounds like he still needs to classify things as good and bad, though. Maybe a previous moral framework has collapsed and he’s looking for an alternative? Any idea whether he had goals beyond ‘survive’?
Ignorance. I may think I understand their minds, but that does not prove that I do understand their minds.
All you know is that you have a mental model of their minds which seems credible to you. Have you tested this model, and if so, how?
All I am reasonably sure of is that they did not see their act as evil and cowardly. Doubtless the same was true of Jack the Ripper and the Boston Strangler, but that tells me nothing about the differences between them and everyone else. After all, I only think that is true of them is because it seems to be true of most people.
It is really just an assumption.
That’s really an interesting question. What about the ones who really ARE insane psychopaths? Do they think they are doing the right thing, or do they really just not care?
I’m inclined toward the latter, actually. I’ve read some of Stalin’s journals, where he says things like “What is efficient is good. What is inefficient is bad.” That sounds like he literally doesn’t understand what morality MEANS to ordinary, non-psychopathic people.
Sounds like he still needs to classify things as good and bad, though. Maybe a previous moral framework has collapsed and he’s looking for an alternative? Any idea whether he had goals beyond ‘survive’?