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4thTimeLucky · 06-10-2003, 03:43 AM

I think you may end up confusing moral duty from practical reality.

The practical reality is that, unless by coincidence you die upon uttering those words, you HAVE to do something. Even choosing to do nothing involves something - namely making the choice to do nothing.

Do you have a moral duty to do things? Now that is a tricky question and one that I doubt you can simply resolve with rebutals. What if you have a moral duty to worship God, but you are in denial of this fact? Are you going to try and rebut that by proving that the existence of God is logically impossible? That may take some time!

An easier way to get to the heart of the matter - I find - is to hit people who say such things. Keep thumping and kicking away. Maybe take their wallet. Eventually they will get angry with you. Not just angry with the situation (as one gets angry with a tone that cracks your windshield) but angry with you for what you are doing. Then keep asking them for reasons why they angry and why you should stop they will eventually reach a point where they say that you shouldn't be hitting them. At that point stop.

Its not exactly rigurous intellectual philosophy, but its a great way to make people think about what they really believe.

If you are not the violent type then show them films about the holocaust or rape. Ask them what they think of it. We can all appeal to the simple logic of moral relativism, but something in our hearts tells us that there is more to it than that.

06-10-2003, 03:43 AM	#2 (permalink)
4thTimeLucky Psycho Location: 4th has left the building - goodbye folks	I think you may end up confusing moral duty from practical reality. The practical reality is that, unless by coincidence you die upon uttering those words, you HAVE to do something. Even choosing to do nothing involves something - namely making the choice to do nothing. Do you have a moral duty to do things? Now that is a tricky question and one that I doubt you can simply resolve with rebutals. What if you have a moral duty to worship God, but you are in denial of this fact? Are you going to try and rebut that by proving that the existence of God is logically impossible? That may take some time! An easier way to get to the heart of the matter - I find - is to hit people who say such things. Keep thumping and kicking away. Maybe take their wallet. Eventually they will get angry with you. Not just angry with the situation (as one gets angry with a tone that cracks your windshield) but angry with you for what you are doing. Then keep asking them for reasons why they angry and why you should stop they will eventually reach a point where they say that you shouldn't be hitting them. At that point stop. Its not exactly rigurous intellectual philosophy, but its a great way to make people think about what they really believe. If you are not the violent type then show them films about the holocaust or rape. Ask them what they think of it. We can all appeal to the simple logic of moral relativism, but something in our hearts tells us that there is more to it than that. __________________ I've been 4thTimeLucky, you've been great. Goodnight and God bless!