tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9661811.post1161595096906251936..comments2024-02-18T12:18:45.788-05:00Comments on Sun and Shield: Science as a basis for moralityMartin LaBarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14629053725732957599noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9661811.post-65371085472941542862010-10-06T06:20:57.401-04:002010-10-06T06:20:57.401-04:00Thanks, Pete.
Christians (and others) do overlook...Thanks, Pete.<br /><br />Christians (and others) do overlook, or just plain violate, Matthew 25:40. It should be a guide to morality, and it goes along with the Golden Rule.<br /><br />Yes, I'm happy (sometimes, at least) with our governmental system, although it seems to me that it has gone way overboard into partisanship, at least on the national level, lately.<br /><br />Thanks again.Martin LaBarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14629053725732957599noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9661811.post-71150280875871173372010-10-05T12:21:02.082-04:002010-10-05T12:21:02.082-04:00I agree with all you've said here. To me the ...I agree with all you've said here. To me the Golden Rule is the way to go as well (although it predates the Gospel of Matthew by quite a bit!). The problem of government is a difficult one that I think, so far, has best been addressed by our representative republic or a parliamentary system.<br /><br />I think there is a bit of scripture that is somewhat overlooked, but should be an important guide to christian morality though...that is Matt. 25:40.Pete DeSantonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9661811.post-65474592538501649422010-10-05T03:49:31.140-04:002010-10-05T03:49:31.140-04:00I played Harris's talk. I'd still generall...I played Harris's talk. I'd still generally rather read what someone says than listen to it/watch it, whether on TV or computer. That's probably an idiosyncrasy I should get over.<br /><br />Based on what Harris said, I think that the <i>New York Times</i> book reviewer was fair in his summation and criticism of Harris's book. Here's my reaction:<br />1) The central criticism I quoted in the post remains valid, as I see it.<br />2) We are a ways away from any objective measure of happiness, probably further away than Harris thinks.<br />3) However, assuming we could measure happiness, and that the 1st criticism isn't important, either, the classical criticisms of utilitarianism/consequentialist ethics would remain, and Harris doesn't seem to deal with these.<br />4) OK, suppose that we could show, objectively, that rigid Muslim societies are repressive and unjust, especially toward women. Does that then give us, whoever us is, the right, or the duty, or both, to supplant such societies, even if it means going to war to do it? Wars are notoriously hard on people's happiness. (I don't think we need a scientific objective measure to show that such societies are deeply unjust, and I'm not sure Harris thinks we need such measurements, either.)<br />5) I'll stick with the Golden Rule as an ideal standard for individual action. I'm not sure that it was meant to apply to governments.<br /><br />Thanks for the link.Martin LaBarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14629053725732957599noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9661811.post-70105746375725804302010-10-04T22:19:38.282-04:002010-10-04T22:19:38.282-04:00TED talks are pretty awesome though Martin. I hav...TED talks are pretty awesome though Martin. I have my computer set up as a media server so I can stream things like YouTube to my TV. Very nice for home videos as well.Pete DeSantonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9661811.post-86944688014991080192010-10-04T20:13:37.225-04:002010-10-04T20:13:37.225-04:00Thanks, Pete. I'll try to watch it, or at leas...Thanks, Pete. I'll try to watch it, or at least listen. I'm not a big fan of listening to anyone give a talk on our computer, whatever their beliefs.Martin LaBarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14629053725732957599noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9661811.post-23808983675972566502010-10-04T09:06:28.636-04:002010-10-04T09:06:28.636-04:00You can get a flavor for Harris's approach fro...You can get a flavor for Harris's approach from his TED talk... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hj9oB4zpHwwPete DeSantonoreply@blogger.com