To expand upon the discussion of emotion...
First, a preliminary idea:
In Lila, Pirsig discusses morals in a different way than most people are accustomed to. Some of the "morals" he introduces don't seem like morals in the everyday sense of the word. That is because we are used to the word "morals" actually meaning "social morals." I think that Pirsig does a good job generalizing the definition.
So here is some food for thought. What is the difference between "ethics" and "morals"? "Ethics" refers to a idealogical system of values, whereas "morals" refers to a system of behavior that reflects values. One might say, for example, that a Nazi involved in the Holocaust behaved "immorally", whereas an individual who did not partake in the event but nevertheless supports the idea has a "unethical" view of the situation. I propose that the definition of "ethics" can be generalized as a companion to Pirsig's generalization of "morals".
Moreover, (and this idea may need to be tweaked a bit), perhaps we add a generalized definition of emotion to the mix. Ethics are an individual's system of values, Morals are behavior that reflect those values, and Emotions are nonbehavioral expressions of those values. How about an example on an intellectual level (in order to emphasize the generalization):
Say that I am a mathematician who questions the validity of the Axiom of Choice. If, in my mind, I decide that I will not except the Axiom of Choice or any of its consequences, then that is a matter of intellectual ethics. If, when I prove results and publish papers, I avoid using the Axiom of Choice and all of its consequences, then that is a matter of intellectual morals. If, when speaking or writing, I proclaim, "The Axiom of Choice is not valid," or I snicker when another mathematician uses the axiom in a proof, then I am expressing an intellectual emotion.
Any comments?
Christopher
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