@Robert Gentel,
Robert Gentel wrote:As a kid I was once discussing medical ethics with a Brazilian surgeon when he told me something that changed my life forever.
"What is your ultimate criteria?" he asked me. He went on to explain that any ethical issue boils down to core values, and depending on what you consider your "golden rule" your ethical calculations can produce different results.
It's very true, but few people bother to codify their core moral philosophy. Here is an example that inspired this thread:
My personal moral code boils down to the ideal of least amount of suffering. Obviously quantifying suffering is subjective and so is opinions about how best to minimize it but this is still a moral compass that sets my moral bearings to the best that I can interpret these subjective issues.
So when someone says they value American life (or Mexican life) more than those suffering more it clearly violates my own moral code. In a choice between helping a starving foreigner and an unemployed American I'd not choose my nationality over the one who is suffering the most. My ideal is to minimize the most suffering and it's clear where my aid should go in that situation.
I was trying to imagine what kind of moral compass would produce the tribalism I disdain, and really began to wonder if it wasn't just the typical absence of an "ultimate criteria", as Dr. Edson put it, at all. Most people don't bother thinking about it this far, but I would invite those here at a2k to give it a try.
What is the core values in your moral compass? And how does that work in practice for you?
If you don't have one yet, try to codify one. Ideally they are generic (not too specific) as they should be core values that can apply to ANY situation to produce a theoretical ideal.
OK, here is mine, but recourse to experience leads me to believe that it is
hypocritical.
In theory, I believe in libertarianism and Individualism, that everyone has the right to make his own mistakes.
My moral compass is and was: to
NOT violate the rights of others.
My moral compass is and was: to
not interfere with anyone who chooses
to engage in self-destructive activity neither totally (suicide) nor partially.
In my opinion, taking illegal drugs is self-destructive (except for medical purposes).
In the 1970s, my liberal Democrat ex-girlfriend, Marilyn lived with me
and she returned to live with me again in the 1980s, with her child, Nancy
between ages 2 and 4. Nancy is not genetically related to me.
Marilyn was therapeutically addicted to Valium in the 1970s
because she was socially withdrawn, shy n bashful.
She was cut off from her legal source of supply (doctor died).
She bawt Valium illegally, and got into other drugs: marijuana,
occasional cocaine (crack ?) quaaludes. She never tried heroin.
On a given Saturday morning I saw her drink most of a pint of 161 proof rum.
She announced that she was going to put Nancy into her car
and drive to her favorite crack house to spend the day.
I was somewhat alarmed and distressed by this turn of events.
I pointed out that driving with most of a pint of rum in her was dangerous.
The odds of a vehicular collision were very risky,
especially considering the fact that Marilyn openly admitted
that she was a poor driver even sober, thus
exposing the innocent public of NY + Marilyn & child to significant peril.
She insisted. I proved myself a hypocrit in preventing her from leaving.
I did my impression of Gov. George Wallace blocking the door.
I watched her very, very acutely to see if she moved in the direction
of where I had my guns. (Marilyn is a liberal and does not like guns.)
She did not think of that; if she had moven in that direction,
I 'd have pounced on her, to restrain her; not difficult, she is petite.
Marilyn threatened to call the police. I said, (approximately)
"as owner of this property:
I give u permission to use that fone, right there, to call the police
and explain to them that u just drank a lot of 161 proof rum,
your driver 's license is expired, your car insurance is expired,
u wanna put your 4 year old child into your car and
drive to a crack house for the day's recreation,
but your boyfriend will not let u leave."
She changed her mind about calling the police.
Instead, she picked up a big radio and hit me on the head with it,
after warning me. It was a lite blow; ineffective.
Then she gave up.
Quad est demonstratum: I am a libertarian hypocrit, moral compass violator.
( Incidentally, Marilyn has since visited 2 hospitals, resulting in
her liberation from addiction to drugs, except for cigarettes.
Nancy was briefly married, sprouted, giving birth to a son who is probably around 15 by now. )
