tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16594468.post1076707713666722714..comments2023-10-24T04:29:23.693-06:00Comments on Atheist Ethicist: To Inspire and ConvinceAlonzo Fyfehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05687777216426347054noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16594468.post-83088247352426149172009-07-02T20:19:34.818-06:002009-07-02T20:19:34.818-06:00Hello! (Yair?)
Of course the theory has to be rati...Hello! (Yair?)<br /><i>Of course the theory has to be rational, true, and so on. But in addition it needs to actually convince and inspire to take certain actions, explicitly</i>.<br /><br />I find myself at a loss. It sounds like you are asking for something that only you can deliver. No one can make you feel inspired by what is. I am reminded of my (christian) exwife, who commented during a beautiful thunderstorm that "you think all this made itself", implying that she saw a wonder and majesty that I could not appreciate.<br /><br />I believe the truth to be the opposite. When you understand the natural forces at work, the interplay of particles and properties, the way reality is shaped, it fills you with MORE wonder and awe than those who don't know of such things can grasp. It is more beautiful than anything a human storyteller can dream up, and more complicated than any single mind can contain. This is why the truth is so inspiring - because the truth is always much more breath-taking than the stories we can make up.<br /><br />You seem to be un-inspired by the reality around you, a small portion of which is described by DU. It reminds me of <a href="http://lesswrong.com/lw/or/joy_in_the_merely_real/" rel="nofollow">Eliezer's post</a> where he said:<br /><br /><i>If we cannot take joy in things that are merely real, our lives will always be empty</i>.Eneaszhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14500232958398471146noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16594468.post-31182482233959451682009-07-02T06:58:37.058-06:002009-07-02T06:58:37.058-06:00Richard of Norway:
You were correct. The comment ...Richard of Norway:<br /><br />You were correct. The comment that was formerly above yours has now been removed.Alonzo Fyfehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05687777216426347054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16594468.post-72869073903023491782009-07-01T05:29:02.399-06:002009-07-01T05:29:02.399-06:00Um.. Isn't the comment above mine cleverly dis...Um.. Isn't the comment above mine cleverly disguised SPAM???<br /><br />Great article. Thanks as always!Richard of Norwayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14817764374796282647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16594468.post-68926528089801771862009-06-27T14:52:05.220-06:002009-06-27T14:52:05.220-06:00You are creating a false dichotomy.
The theory of...You are creating a false dichotomy.<br /><br />The theory of evolution by natural selection had, of course, both inspired and convinced scientists. To say otherwise is folly. <br /><br /><i>Of course</i> the theory has to be rational, true, and so on. But <i>in addition</i> it needs to actually convince and inspire to take certain actions, explicitly. I gave a criteria to identify a moral theory (especially in contrast with a theory on social dynamics), not an exhaustive definition of a moral theory. <br /><br />You yourself are clearly convinced and inspired by your theory to make these posts. Why deny this to others? Why deny that this is a defining aspect of a moral theory?<br /><br />P.S, I share your ontology, and your aversion to the permissive ones. I can sign on to most of what you just said - just not to the part implying that moral theories should be unconvincing, or should not inspire any action.יאיר רזקhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15798134654972572485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16594468.post-77741320968276109742009-06-27T06:55:53.237-06:002009-06-27T06:55:53.237-06:00This post has been linked for the HOT5 Daily 6/27/...This post has been linked for the HOT5 Daily 6/27/2009, at <a href="http://unreligiousright.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">The Unreligious Right</a>UNRRhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17093711439992855042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16594468.post-80614697218395860462009-06-27T01:16:45.097-06:002009-06-27T01:16:45.097-06:00Excellent Post!
I am glad that Yair came here to ...Excellent Post!<br /><br />I am glad that Yair came here to carry on the debate with you. Apart from him defining morality as subjective which is, of course, question begging, this still leads, in his case - compared to other subjectivists - to some interesting, if misplaced challenges to DU.<br /><br />These are certainly inspiring some great ripostes by you. Whether these will convince him or not....Martin Freedmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16952072422175870627noreply@blogger.com