Reply
Tue 13 Oct, 2015 05:44 pm
Context:
Everyone has an intuitive "physics," but much of o intuitive physics is wrong
(with respect to the goal of describing the behavior of matter). Only physicists have a deep understanding of the laws that govern the behavior of matter in our universe. I am arguing that everyone also has an intuitive "morality",but much of our intuitive morality is clearly wrong (with respect to the goal of maximizing personal and collective well-being). And only genuine moral experts would have a deep understanding of the causes and conditions of human and animal well-being.
Yes, we must have a goal to define what counts as 'right' or 'wrong' wheeaking about physics or morality, but this criterion visits us equally in both domains. And yes, I think it is quite clear that members of the Taliban are seeking well-being in this world (as well as hoping for it in the next). But their religious beliefs have led them to create a culture that is almost perfectly hostile to human flourishing. Whatever they think they want out of life-like keeping all women and girls subjugated and illiterate-they simply do not understand how much better life would be for them if they had different priorities.
--Sam Harris The Moral Landscape
@oristarA,
Mark: Forgotten Thread (10)
Patience is a virtue, grasshopper.
No. "Both domains" refers to physics and morality.
@oristarA,
when asking, presumably?
And top marks to somebody for knowing that criteria has a singular.