Morality Riddles
The discussion has begun to branch between same-level morality , and morality
between the levels. The former seems messy and relativistic, but the latter
seems much clearer…..at least in comparison. This is of course an assumption,
so let’s test the between-level part of this assumption with a few morality
riddles.
Each of the riddles involves morality between levels. Even judging these
from the intellectual level, I don't think the answers are at all obvious:
1) Is it moral for a small society of Amazon Indians to totally destroy a
tropical rain forest -- an entire ecosystem and all plants and animals within
it -- and replace it with a plantation?
2) Is it moral for a free democracy to hunt down and kill terrorists in the
Middle East?
3) If 1940's Japan had attacked the Lila Squad, rather than the U.S., and
tried to wipe us out and replace our free intellectual exchanges with Fascism,
would it be moral for our small group to protect ourselves and drop nuclear
weapons on Hiroshima and Nagasaki ……..killing millions?
These are serious moral questions that are not intended tritely ……. I do see a
glimmer of resolution that can lead to deeper understanding, but I am not
sure.......Any thoughts?
Be Good All!
Roger
homepage - http://www.moq.org
queries - mailto:moq@moq.org
unsubscribe - mailto:majordomo@moq.org with UNSUBSCRIBE MOQ_DISCUSS in
body of email
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b30 : Sat Aug 17 2002 - 16:02:38 BST