Philosophy Now Forum

prof wrote: The title of the little pamphlet (only 15 pages - if printed out on both sides) is ETHICS FOR THE 21st CENTURY: Keys to the good life - (2015)
Here is a link to it for your convenience: http://www.myqol.com/wadeharvey/PDFs/ET ... ENTURY.pdf

Did a careful study of these pages provide you with any concepts that you found to be stimulating or enlightening with regard to ethical theory and its practical applications?

This document is designed to provoke thought about concerns of Ethics, the serious study. - Is it helpful in that respect?

...Would like your critique, not as to its style but as to its substance. Will it contribute to the more-rapid arrival of an ethical world? Will you, as you pursue your career and goals in life, put it to work? -

Thanks in advance.

prof wrote:Yes, you did introduce those instances, Tom, for which I am profoundly grateful. The pamphlet also contains credited quotes from Rosalind Hursthouse, a renowned Philosopher who argues for Virtue Ethics, and especially for an understanding of the value of honesty. Thank you very much for your contribution and for upholding the free exchange of ideas; you are a better writer than I am. You, as do journalists, know that to give a concrete example at the outset will hold the reader's interest. I was very impressed by your skill. If you wish, I'll make you a co-author of the essay in its next edition, should there be one, since your have a gift for selecting good examples to illustrate points.That will not be necessary.

The essence of my theory is that "Ethics" is a perspective ...a perspective on a human individual, or group of them. It arises when we view the human being as highly valuable. Also, the theory indicates that - if we are ethical - we will make things better, morally better. Lots of implications may be deduced from that definition (of the concept "Ethics") and from that axiom.Ethics is a judgment by a human being that an act is either morally right or wrong. One of them is: Do no harm! This in turn implies a renunciation of violence, cruelty, ruthless exploitation, lack of humility, greed, self-mutilation, etc. The fundamental axiom of Thomism is synderisis or "Good is to be sought and evil is to be avoided."

Also, as part of the theory, techniques and methods are proffered which enable us to make things better. In addition, it encourages us to develop new 'moral technologies', that is, technologies which tend to make our lives easier, simpler, more secure and more comfortable. Such innovations are how we "get from here to there" - how we are more likely to live in a more-civilized world, in an ethical world - one that has less incentives for trouble-making, for needless stress of an anxious sort, for crime and maliciousness.

Since syntropy (order, value) is every bit as much natural law as is entropy, if we want to live in harmony with nature, we would encourage more syntropy: we would strive to maximize value and to minimize disvalue (chaos, misery, destitution and avoidable suffering.) We would support practical policies that implement this.

Furthermore, research in Brain Neurology has shown that we are pre-wired to seek our own personal benefit. A question that arises is: What is that benefit and how can we attain it? Research by Dr. Post at Case Western Reserve has revealed that if we make someone else happy we are then happy too. We come to feel our life is making a difference when we make others happy; life seems more meaningful to us; it is a good feeling! It lifts us up. If we trust others, treat them decently, they often tend to treat us the same way. I doubt, however, that public schools teach The Golden Rule. It is a win/win situation, all around.


Comments? Questions?