biolog

1 Response to “But, but…what about Stalin…and Hitler?”

1. 1 Kevin Baker
   August 2, 2008 at 6:36 pm

   gilt,
   Dropped by to check out your blog after reading a recent comment you left on Theoblog. I was fascinated by your self-described rant, but it left me wanting to pick your brain a bit further. Especially this comment:

   “It goes like this: most of us choose to reach a tenuous agreement with our fellow humans on a few basic rules of ethics and conduct if we desire to live in a free society. A good one is do to others as you would have them do to you. This allows us to judge actions by their consequences, which is the best formula we have that allows the maximum amount of happiness/freedom that does not harm another person or impinge on that person’s happiness/freedom. (the greatest good for the greatest number of people, as J.S. Mills would say). That is how secular societies function.”

   Since the way most of these rules are negotiated today is through the auspices of nation-states, does this position not require one to see such as the primary authority on moral matters? Just curious.

   On another note, I am also curious what constitutes “happiness/freedom” in your construct. Is it synonymous with something like “minimal interference?” Again, just curious.

   Thought you would be a mind worth engaging! When I “saw” smoke rising from your frontal lobe, I had some mirror neuron action going on!