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05-24-2005 04:44 PM |
Sorry, Flinty, nothing personal
Quote:
Originally posted by Spanky
Yes people have come up with moral systems based on self interest. And generally people agree that morality helps people survive. If in a society there are rules against killing and stealing etc. then the society will be stronger because there will not be internal conflict. But as far as morality is concerned you run into what I like to call the Nietchza problem. If one can see that the morality is there purely to help the society to survive, the smart rational player would want to live in a moral society, but not be moral themselves but make the rest of society think they are moral (become a superman beyond burgeous morality). You want to live in a moral society because then your neighbords won't steal your stuff or kill you. However, if you live in such a society, if you can get away with it, you should steal your neighbors stuff because that will benefit you. As long as your neighbors don't know that you are doing it, then you should do it. If you can cheat on your taxes and get away with it you should because it is in your self interest. In a moral code that is purely based on self interest and practicality how can argue that someone should not steal from their neighbor if they can get away with it?
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I think it is hardwired into us to a degree, not to do the things that are bad for society as a whole. And the ability to comprehend (or inability to completely ignore/forget) the whole kinda Kantian* "if everyone did it, my life would suck, so I shouldn't do it" thing is also hardwired in, to a degree. Why do pack animals cooperate?
*oooh, check it out, I put in a PHILOSOPHER name, I am soooo fucking cool |
