Morality is not simple, nor is it easy. It is a constantly shifting landscape, and regions of it may well be intractable.
Agreed. Though it amuses me that you say this less than 24 hours after saying, "Morals that you throw out when they are tested are false morals." [I would have used the word "weak" rather than "false"; morality is a subjective enough landscape that I don't like using words that imply any similarity to, say, mathematical proofs.]
That said, I don't think that achieving a temporary, local comfort with one's morals is necessarily a bad. That is, "I am comfortable with my current answers to the problems I currently face" need not imply "I believe I know all the answers for all the situations that I will encounter in future".
A while back, someone here (siderea?) posted a link to an interesting study of how the basis of morality changes over the course of childhood cognitive development. I appear to have mislaid the link myself, but perhaps they will repost. It could have some interesting bearing on the conversation.
[Actually that search string was misspelled, but Google's gotten remarkably good about fixing that sort of thing. Even, as I discovered last night, when you're searching in medieval latin!]
I said false rather than weak because to me weak morals codes to weak will when implementing one's morals, which I see as slightly different from morals that you only apply in the abstract. I don't see that as a conflict with my position here (I'm sure you're shocked), and that may be due to a different interpretation of "test" in this context. I meant tested as in "put to the test" in the sense of being challenged to actually apply them. You can, of course, fail to live by your own morals for a variety of reasons, but if you deliberately decide that your morals don't apply to your real life, then you are falsely presenting your morality.
Conversely, changing your morals with further thought or new facts does not present the same problem necessarily. If you run into an unexpected case, regardless of whether it is real or hypothetical, reassessing your morality may well be required. The distinction I'm trying to draw is between evolving your morals and overriding them.
Local comfort doesn't really bother me. What I take issue with is complacency based on Knowing one is in the right.
"silverwing, v.: (1) to argue more than one side of an issue at the same time (2) to vehemently and tediously agree (3) generally, to debate inconclusively for the hell of it."
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Date: 2004-01-27 06:01 pm (UTC)Agreed. Though it amuses me that you say this less than 24 hours after saying, "Morals that you throw out when they are tested are false morals." [I would have used the word "weak" rather than "false"; morality is a subjective enough landscape that I don't like using words that imply any similarity to, say, mathematical proofs.]
That said, I don't think that achieving a temporary, local comfort with one's morals is necessarily a bad. That is, "I am comfortable with my current answers to the problems I currently face" need not imply "I believe I know all the answers for all the situations that I will encounter in future".
A while back, someone here (
no subject
Date: 2004-01-27 07:36 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-01-27 08:07 pm (UTC)[Actually that search string was misspelled, but Google's gotten remarkably good about fixing that sort of thing. Even, as I discovered last night, when you're searching in medieval latin!]
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Date: 2004-01-27 11:29 pm (UTC)Conversely, changing your morals with further thought or new facts does not present the same problem necessarily. If you run into an unexpected case, regardless of whether it is real or hypothetical, reassessing your morality may well be required. The distinction I'm trying to draw is between evolving your morals and overriding them.
Local comfort doesn't really bother me. What I take issue with is complacency based on Knowing one is in the right.
no subject
Date: 2004-01-28 04:18 am (UTC)"silverwing, v.: (1) to argue more than one side of an issue at the same time
(2) to vehemently and tediously agree (3) generally, to debate inconclusively
for the hell of it."
Hm, wonder if we can get Steffan on LJ...
Re:
Date: 2004-01-29 05:21 pm (UTC)Very good question. I think you've conclusively proven here that he'd enjoy it...