Right and Wrong

Talk about anything under the sun or stars - but keep it civil. This is where we really get to know each other. Everyone is welcome, and invited!
Lusitania_Fleet
Launchie
Launchie
Posts: 39
Joined: Thu Nov 12, 2009 8:59 pm
Location: The End of the World, as you know it.

Right and Wrong

Postby Lusitania_Fleet » Mon Dec 14, 2009 12:37 pm

I just wanted to see what other people's views on the concept of right and wrong were. There's alot of school of philosophy out there, and I want to see how people who haven't studied philosophy for years back up their ideas. Not that I've studied for years or anything. But I've never really heard teh ideas of anyone who ISN'T a professional philosopher.

Me, I'm a utilitarian. Most of the time. The ends justify the means. I think that right and wrong should be based on action and consequence. Good of the people.

But I'm also a big fan of deontology? deontism? Anybody know? You know, the world in black and white. You don't lie, no matter what. You don't kill, for any reason.

So many views. I want to know.
Life is but a walking shadow, a poor player who struts and frets his hour upon the stage, and then is heard no more. It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.

User avatar
Peterlover14
Toon Leader
Toon Leader
Posts: 1849
Joined: Fri Nov 27, 2009 6:37 pm
Title: Game Room Junkie
Location: Denton, Texas
Contact:

Postby Peterlover14 » Sat Dec 26, 2009 10:32 pm

I don't know a lot about philosophy and I don't believe in a religion, but I tend to lean towards the ten commandment type morals. Just common sense that is altruistically good for everyone. Not stealing because it belongs to someone else, not you. Same with stealing a life. Lying I find is necesscary at times. Everyone has done it so is it really a considered a sin if it's natural? Envy is also normal, though being grateful is good for the heart n' soul, right? :)

Anyway, that's just my ten cents. Hope it means something and get's some more posts and this lonely thread...
"I'm drowning in FOOTWEAR!"

-Spike, Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Season 7

CezeN
Toon Leader
Toon Leader
Posts: 1254
Joined: Tue Aug 05, 2008 1:24 pm
Title: will not be ignored

Postby CezeN » Mon Dec 28, 2009 5:08 pm

is it really a considered a sin if it's natural? Envy is also normal, though being grateful is good for the heart n' soul, right? :)
In terms of the bible, most "natural" things, are sinful.
That's why sin is synonamous with ways of the flesh. Or at least, my pastor calls sinful behavior, "giving in to the flesh".

However, I'm pretty sure it's not just him. Religous people fast in order to starve the flesh, becuase that's supposed to bring us closer to our spiritual side and closer to God.

Also, "everyone does it" is not a good argument for categorizing something as natural...
Gunny and his thoughts on First Earth:
Image

User avatar
Peterlover14
Toon Leader
Toon Leader
Posts: 1849
Joined: Fri Nov 27, 2009 6:37 pm
Title: Game Room Junkie
Location: Denton, Texas
Contact:

Postby Peterlover14 » Mon Dec 28, 2009 6:03 pm

Okay, it's not like I debate for a living. I was just saying what made sense to me.

And how does natural not mean something that everybody does? Explain for me so I won't mess up again.
"I'm drowning in FOOTWEAR!"

-Spike, Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Season 7

User avatar
Rei
Commander
Commander
Posts: 3068
Joined: Tue Sep 26, 2006 6:31 pm
Title: Fides quaerens intellectum
First Joined: 24 Nov 2003
Location: Between the lines

Postby Rei » Mon Dec 28, 2009 9:25 pm

Natural describes what is part of our nature. We are able to act contrary to nature, and so act unnaturally.

One could make a case that a sin is anything that transgresses human nature. But that then begs the question: what is human nature, and can it be transgressed?
Le coeur a ses raisons que la raison ne connait point.
~Blaise Pascal


私は。。。誰?

Dernhelm

User avatar
Peterlover14
Toon Leader
Toon Leader
Posts: 1849
Joined: Fri Nov 27, 2009 6:37 pm
Title: Game Room Junkie
Location: Denton, Texas
Contact:

Postby Peterlover14 » Mon Dec 28, 2009 10:45 pm

Whoa, okay I'm not that smart. I can think about it and say what I think but my simple minded responses are all you can get from me.

Sorry, I shouldn't have posted here in the first place.
"I'm drowning in FOOTWEAR!"

-Spike, Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Season 7

User avatar
Rei
Commander
Commander
Posts: 3068
Joined: Tue Sep 26, 2006 6:31 pm
Title: Fides quaerens intellectum
First Joined: 24 Nov 2003
Location: Between the lines

Postby Rei » Tue Dec 29, 2009 7:45 am

My apologies, I did not mean to belittle you. The issue in your question about what does natural mean is that many people believe that humans were once in a perfect state. If we all once were perfect, that would mean that our nature is to be perfect, and every time we are imperfect we are being unnatural, or behaving contrary to our nature.

Another aspect is that a lot of people believe in something called "natural law". This says that there is a certain natural or innate understanding of right and wrong in people (e.g. it is wrong to murder in cold blood). According to this, every time we violate this internal sense of justice, we violate natural law, and by extension, we violate our own nature.
Le coeur a ses raisons que la raison ne connait point.
~Blaise Pascal


私は。。。誰?

Dernhelm

User avatar
Peterlover14
Toon Leader
Toon Leader
Posts: 1849
Joined: Fri Nov 27, 2009 6:37 pm
Title: Game Room Junkie
Location: Denton, Texas
Contact:

Postby Peterlover14 » Tue Dec 29, 2009 10:41 am

Is the first one biblical? Because if god knew Adam and Eve would go against what he said, why did he make the rule? He knows everything from beginning to end so what was the point of making them so perfect?

I've never heard of the natural law before. But it sounds like it would be believed by people who believe humans are naturally good. Is that kinda on track?
"I'm drowning in FOOTWEAR!"

-Spike, Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Season 7

CezeN
Toon Leader
Toon Leader
Posts: 1254
Joined: Tue Aug 05, 2008 1:24 pm
Title: will not be ignored

Postby CezeN » Tue Dec 29, 2009 1:52 pm

Whoa, okay I'm not that smart. I can think about it and say what I think but my simple minded responses are all you can get from me.

Sorry, I shouldn't have posted here in the first place.
Ugh.
Stop underestimating yourself. Seriously.
Gunny and his thoughts on First Earth:
Image

User avatar
Peterlover14
Toon Leader
Toon Leader
Posts: 1849
Joined: Fri Nov 27, 2009 6:37 pm
Title: Game Room Junkie
Location: Denton, Texas
Contact:

Postby Peterlover14 » Tue Dec 29, 2009 6:34 pm

I'm sure I'm not the only one who agrees with that Cezen. Syphon the Sun hates me, half of the people in Milagre ignore my posts. Sorry if I bug you too. I don't mean to do it.
"I'm drowning in FOOTWEAR!"

-Spike, Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Season 7

User avatar
Rei
Commander
Commander
Posts: 3068
Joined: Tue Sep 26, 2006 6:31 pm
Title: Fides quaerens intellectum
First Joined: 24 Nov 2003
Location: Between the lines

Postby Rei » Tue Dec 29, 2009 7:03 pm

Is the first one biblical? Because if god knew Adam and Eve would go against what he said, why did he make the rule? He knows everything from beginning to end so what was the point of making them so perfect?

I've never heard of the natural law before. But it sounds like it would be believed by people who believe humans are naturally good. Is that kinda on track?
Yes, that is on track. The second half was a more general description of the first half. Natural law was first described by Aristotle, I believe. It did not begin in the Christian tradition, although it has been picked up by it (which is why you thought it sounded biblical).
Le coeur a ses raisons que la raison ne connait point.
~Blaise Pascal


私は。。。誰?

Dernhelm

User avatar
Peterlover14
Toon Leader
Toon Leader
Posts: 1849
Joined: Fri Nov 27, 2009 6:37 pm
Title: Game Room Junkie
Location: Denton, Texas
Contact:

Postby Peterlover14 » Tue Dec 29, 2009 8:40 pm

Ah, Aristotle. It's a good thing I'm planning on studying philosphy soon. All of these things seem to always revolve around the same people.
"I'm drowning in FOOTWEAR!"

-Spike, Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Season 7

User avatar
Rei
Commander
Commander
Posts: 3068
Joined: Tue Sep 26, 2006 6:31 pm
Title: Fides quaerens intellectum
First Joined: 24 Nov 2003
Location: Between the lines

Postby Rei » Tue Dec 29, 2009 9:08 pm

If you have an interest in philosophy, good for you for looking to study it. You'll find a lot of the same names keep coming up, especially Plato and Aristotle, as they were two of the most influential philosophers in history.
Le coeur a ses raisons que la raison ne connait point.
~Blaise Pascal


私は。。。誰?

Dernhelm

User avatar
Peterlover14
Toon Leader
Toon Leader
Posts: 1849
Joined: Fri Nov 27, 2009 6:37 pm
Title: Game Room Junkie
Location: Denton, Texas
Contact:

Postby Peterlover14 » Tue Dec 29, 2009 9:10 pm

Right. I only know them from chemistry, but if you hear their words it's usually a no brainer who it is. Especially Plato. He was...very...what's the word?
"I'm drowning in FOOTWEAR!"

-Spike, Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Season 7

CezeN
Toon Leader
Toon Leader
Posts: 1254
Joined: Tue Aug 05, 2008 1:24 pm
Title: will not be ignored

Postby CezeN » Wed Dec 30, 2009 3:17 pm

I'm sure I'm not the only one who agrees with that Cezen. Syphon the Sun hates me, half of the people in Milagre ignore my posts. Sorry if I bug you too. I don't mean to do it.
I don't care. And, you shouldn't care enough about whether people are annoyed by your posts, to make a remark like "I shouldn't have posted here" or whatever after you post.

The only reason that they probably do that is because [I'm gonna be blunt] you're a postwh0re.
Just don't make pointless posts and you'll be fine.

On current topic: Unless you're gonna go into law, there really isn't much you can do in the field of philosophy, though.
Right?
Gunny and his thoughts on First Earth:
Image

jotabe
Toon Leader
Toon Leader
Posts: 2105
Joined: Tue Oct 31, 2006 11:59 am
Title: Leekmaster Kirbyfu

Postby jotabe » Thu Dec 31, 2009 3:45 am

On current topic: Unless you're gonna go into law, there really isn't much you can do in the field of philosophy, though.
Right?
Studying philosophy (well, history of philosophy, actually) helps you a lot if you are planning on a scientific curriculum; it gives you the right frame of why we do what we do (i mean science), why we pursue knowledge, why it is important, and what people did before science was born.
I would go as far as to say that Science is they only true-to-itself branch of philosophy we have left (as in "love for knowledge"). The rest has degenerated into politics, religion and pseudo-religions/pseudo-science.
Image

User avatar
Peterlover14
Toon Leader
Toon Leader
Posts: 1849
Joined: Fri Nov 27, 2009 6:37 pm
Title: Game Room Junkie
Location: Denton, Texas
Contact:

Postby Peterlover14 » Thu Dec 31, 2009 11:16 am

My first post on this thread was not pointless. Some said I should explain what I think about the subject, and that's what I did Cezen. Yeah, I'm a postwhore. Sorry. But I have been doing better then when I first came to Pweb.
"I'm drowning in FOOTWEAR!"

-Spike, Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Season 7

CezeN
Toon Leader
Toon Leader
Posts: 1254
Joined: Tue Aug 05, 2008 1:24 pm
Title: will not be ignored

Postby CezeN » Thu Dec 31, 2009 12:27 pm

My first post on this thread was not pointless. Some said I should explain what I think about the subject, and that's what I did Cezen. Yeah, I'm a postwhore. Sorry. But I have been doing better then when I first came to Pweb.
Exactly.
So since the posts you're making here have some type of reasoning or thinking involved in them, don't apologize for making them.

Unless your post is pointless, there's no reason to think that you shouldn't have posted. Because, that's pretty much probably the only reason they'd ignore your posts and think them out of place.
Gunny and his thoughts on First Earth:
Image

CezeN
Toon Leader
Toon Leader
Posts: 1254
Joined: Tue Aug 05, 2008 1:24 pm
Title: will not be ignored

Postby CezeN » Thu Dec 31, 2009 12:37 pm

On current topic: Unless you're gonna go into law, there really isn't much you can do in the field of philosophy, though.
Right?
Studying philosophy (well, history of philosophy, actually) helps you a lot if you are planning on a scientific curriculum; it gives you the right frame of why we do what we do (i mean science), why we pursue knowledge, why it is important, and what people did before science was born.
I would go as far as to say that Science is they only true-to-itself branch of philosophy we have left (as in "love for knowledge"). The rest has degenerated into politics, religion and pseudo-religions/pseudo-science.
Oh okay.
But, wouldn't be better to go into a specific field like Neuroscience or Biology? I mean, I understand that it can give you a history/origins of science and the right state of mind. But, does it actually benifit your knowledge, and add knowledge that you will need when you're doing whatever science thing you're doing?
Gunny and his thoughts on First Earth:
Image

zeroguy
Commander
Commander
Posts: 2741
Joined: Wed Sep 27, 2006 4:29 pm
Title: 01111010 01100111
First Joined: 0- 8-2001
Location: Where you least expect me.
Contact:

Postby zeroguy » Fri Jan 01, 2010 12:35 am

Studying philosophy (well, history of philosophy, actually) helps you a lot if you are planning on a scientific curriculum
I interpreted Cez's post as saying going into philosophy as a main focus; standing on it's own, not assisting some other field. I'm not actually sure what one would normally do in the field of philosophy in itself... besides teach, or write books on philosophy. But I wouldn't really know.
Proud member of the Canadian Alliance.

dgf hhw

User avatar
neo-dragon
Commander
Commander
Posts: 2516
Joined: Tue Sep 26, 2006 5:26 pm
Title: Huey Revolutionary
Location: Canada

Postby neo-dragon » Fri Jan 01, 2010 1:04 am

I understand that McDonald's employs a lot of philosophy majors. There must be something truly profound in the art of flipping burgers that's lost on the rest of us.
"Deep in the human unconscious is a pervasive need for a logical universe that makes sense. But the real universe is always one step beyond logic."
- Frank Herbert's 'Dune'

Lusitania_Fleet
Launchie
Launchie
Posts: 39
Joined: Thu Nov 12, 2009 8:59 pm
Location: The End of the World, as you know it.

Postby Lusitania_Fleet » Wed Jan 06, 2010 12:07 pm

In the end, philosophy isn't the most useful major. There really isn't much you can do with it apart from writing and teaching. I think that philosophy should never be a main job, If all you do is think, you will never think new thoughts. It takes a world of outside influence to invoke the thoughts that change things.

And to a waaay earlier post, I'm not a big fan of Aristotle and Plato. I tend to enjoy Kant and Neitzche far more.

And I feel like I missed alot of really good discussion. Stupid vacation =P
Life is but a walking shadow, a poor player who struts and frets his hour upon the stage, and then is heard no more. It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.

Rodaka
Launchie
Launchie
Posts: 34
Joined: Sat Jan 02, 2010 6:13 pm
Location: Utah
Contact:

Postby Rodaka » Wed Jan 06, 2010 7:30 pm

On current topic: Unless you're gonna go into law, there really isn't much you can do in the field of philosophy, though.
Right?
Studying philosophy (well, history of philosophy, actually) helps you a lot if you are planning on a scientific curriculum; it gives you the right frame of why we do what we do (i mean science), why we pursue knowledge, why it is important, and what people did before science was born.
I would go as far as to say that Science is they only true-to-itself branch of philosophy we have left (as in "love for knowledge"). The rest has degenerated into politics, religion and pseudo-religions/pseudo-science.
Oh okay.
But, wouldn't be better to go into a specific field like Neuroscience or Biology? I mean, I understand that it can give you a history/origins of science and the right state of mind. But, does it actually benifit your knowledge, and add knowledge that you will need when you're doing whatever science thing you're doing?
It doesn't always matter if the information you've learned is useful to the field of work you're in or are going into. Broadening your horizons is a great way to keep your mind fresh. Always doing the same thing puts your brain into an "auto" mode. You stop becoming involved in what you're doing much easier. You stop thinking about the work, you just are the work, and your mind doesn't actually do much.
"I once heard a tale of a man who split himself in two. The one part never changed at all; the other grew and grew. The changeless part was always true, the growing part was always new, and I wondered, when the tale was through, which part was me, and which was you."

User avatar
Rei
Commander
Commander
Posts: 3068
Joined: Tue Sep 26, 2006 6:31 pm
Title: Fides quaerens intellectum
First Joined: 24 Nov 2003
Location: Between the lines

Postby Rei » Wed Jan 06, 2010 7:32 pm

I've not read enough of any of them to comment on my favourites. Most of the authors I've read, however, did not have Nietzsche or Kant to draw upon, and rather had only Plato for a fair while, and later on they had Aristotle as well. Certainly their influence cannot be denied, whether or not someone likes their approaches and understandings.
Le coeur a ses raisons que la raison ne connait point.
~Blaise Pascal


私は。。。誰?

Dernhelm

User avatar
PetraArkanianDelphiki
Launchie
Launchie
Posts: 17
Joined: Wed Jan 06, 2010 1:44 am

Postby PetraArkanianDelphiki » Wed Jan 06, 2010 9:50 pm

I'm going to pull on Gupta philosophy. The Great King Ashoka's adviser said once in his 7 rule of might: right is the child of the might. Right comes from might and right takes its roots in might. Only the powerful can be righteous, and until then, one can afford to be unrighteous. If the ruler cannot give up right as the fisherman kills the fish, then their is no hope of power.

Become powerful first, and you can define whats right. Isn't that why Christianity can define right? Because they have a lot of followers? If I had a lot of followers or in other words, might, I could make theft right, adultery right, all up to rape and murder.
"I've watched through his eyes, I've listened through his ears, and I tell you he's the one."

jotabe
Toon Leader
Toon Leader
Posts: 2105
Joined: Tue Oct 31, 2006 11:59 am
Title: Leekmaster Kirbyfu

Postby jotabe » Thu Jan 07, 2010 8:08 am

I think we have 2 fundamental questions here. One would be how moral values come to be... i have no doubt that different societies have been adopting different sets of moral values along history, and this has been making them weaker or stronger. Consider two different "coutries" as parents, each with their set of beliefs, traditions and moral values, which would be their DNA. They enter in contact, which can be peaceful (trade, migration, etc) or violent (war). After this contact, their values mix, and the values of the dominant culture end up making up for most of the culture of the final result. Think that militar victory doesn't necessary mean cultural victory, sometimes it can be quite the opposite: think of the mongol empire anexing the chinese civilization, or the germanic peoples taking over the western roman empire.

The other question is whether it is possible for all humans, as thinking entities, to establish a moral system that all humans could adhere to, that would be seen as fair enough. Which is the problem Kant worked on.
Image


Return to “Milagre Town Square”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Ahrefs [Bot], Google [Bot] and 52 guests