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door · 04-27-2003, 06:50 PM

Morality, up till aroun 1840, only had 2 faces-

Divine Direction-

This is what the Jews and Christians, Muslims etc. followed. Most like to say that those belifes stem from the DO unto Others or even the Ten commandments etc. But that is BS, as if you look carefully, God always tells people to go against the rules sometimes. If you get the chance read "the grand Inquisitor on the nature of man" by Fydor Dostoyevsky. It shows how the state government is the same as this Divine Direction.

the other form was happyness: The greatest good for the greatest number or even, do whatever so long as it hurts no one. This stems from Aristotle, Plato and Socrates. They also belived happyness only came from argument and discorse.

But in the 1800's, Kantian philosophy was born. It states that Ethics is neither Gods direction nor Happyness priniciple. It is based on Freedom, and the Catagorical Imparitive. The CI is that something is permissible if it would still be so if it were universal. Like, lying is ok only if it is ok for everyone to lie all the time.

Get it?

As far as the purpose of Ethics? One of the early posts got it right. It is the same reason we have civilization to begin with.

Read Frued's Civilization and its Discontent- He states that man has built civilization and ethics by giving away freedom in exchange for protection.

It is so true...so true.

04-27-2003, 06:50 PM	#33 (permalink)
door Upright	Morality, up till aroun 1840, only had 2 faces- Divine Direction- This is what the Jews and Christians, Muslims etc. followed. Most like to say that those belifes stem from the DO unto Others or even the Ten commandments etc. But that is BS, as if you look carefully, God always tells people to go against the rules sometimes. If you get the chance read "the grand Inquisitor on the nature of man" by Fydor Dostoyevsky. It shows how the state government is the same as this Divine Direction. the other form was happyness: The greatest good for the greatest number or even, do whatever so long as it hurts no one. This stems from Aristotle, Plato and Socrates. They also belived happyness only came from argument and discorse. But in the 1800's, Kantian philosophy was born. It states that Ethics is neither Gods direction nor Happyness priniciple. It is based on Freedom, and the Catagorical Imparitive. The CI is that something is permissible if it would still be so if it were universal. Like, lying is ok only if it is ok for everyone to lie all the time. Get it? As far as the purpose of Ethics? One of the early posts got it right. It is the same reason we have civilization to begin with. Read Frued's Civilization and its Discontent- He states that man has built civilization and ethics by giving away freedom in exchange for protection. It is so true...so true.