The fact that it sounds accurate is what makes it a funny category error, rather than a boring category error. “2 + 2 = 3 is morally wrong” is not funny. “Deontological ethics is morally wrong” is funny.
It calls to mind a scenario of a consequentialist saying: “True, Deontologist Dan rescued that family from a fire, which was definitely a good thing… but he did it on the basis of an morally wrong system of ethics.”
That″s how I reacted to it, anyway. It’s been a day, I’ve had more sleep, and I STILL find the idea funny. Every time I seriously try to embrace consequentialist ethics, it’s because I think that deontological ethics depend on self-deception.
And lying is bad.
EDIT: I am in no way implying that other consequentialists arrive at consequentialism by this reasoning. I am simply noting that the idea that consequentialist principles are better and more rational, so we should be rational consequentialists (regardless of the results), is very attractive to my own mental hardware, and also very funny.
The fact that it sounds accurate is what makes it a funny category error, rather than a boring category error. “2 + 2 = 3 is morally wrong” is not funny. “Deontological ethics is morally wrong” is funny.
It calls to mind a scenario of a consequentialist saying: “True, Deontologist Dan rescued that family from a fire, which was definitely a good thing… but he did it on the basis of an morally wrong system of ethics.”
That″s how I reacted to it, anyway. It’s been a day, I’ve had more sleep, and I STILL find the idea funny. Every time I seriously try to embrace consequentialist ethics, it’s because I think that deontological ethics depend on self-deception.
And lying is bad.
EDIT: I am in no way implying that other consequentialists arrive at consequentialism by this reasoning. I am simply noting that the idea that consequentialist principles are better and more rational, so we should be rational consequentialists (regardless of the results), is very attractive to my own mental hardware, and also very funny.