Horse, Platt, and squad,
It has been fascinating following your discussions. I can no longer
resist throwing in some of my previously projected ideas to see if they
will broaden your discussions.
Horse writes:
In fact, the most basic
questionsof moral action has been continually ignored:
Is it possible to behave morally?
Clark writes:
Given a clear understanding of the circumstances under which we are
operating at any given time it is certainly possible to behave morally.
However, in view of the fact that we cannot know all of the details of the
operation of the universe and the biosphere we do not have enough
information from which to always make the most moral choice. Our judgement
is limited by ignorance. It is not possible to behave morally under all
circumstances.
Horse writes:
Are we determined or do we have free will. Only if we have free will can we
CHOOSE to act
morally (and I'm going to get really pissed off if someone gives me the
standard Pirsig fudge
that our actions are free when we follow DQ, 'cause if we don't CHOOSE our
course then we
are not FREE. Are we being continually being blown about by the wind of DQ
or can we
make a choice of the most Dynamic action. Choice still comes into the
equation and the
question of whether we have it or not still needs to be answered)
Clark writes:
The universe is deterministic.The molecule that Platt mentions does
contain enough possibilities to build the city of New York.
Yes, we have free will because the complexity generated by the
organization of the universe becomes so great that by the time the
development of the universe reaches humanity we have been effectively
disconnected from the deterministic origins of the universe. For all
practical purposes we have free will.
Horse writes:
Can we deduce the correct action (what we SHOULD do) from the facts that
confront us.
Clark writes:
We cannot, in all cases, deduce the correct (most moral) action from the
facts that confront us because we do not have a complete understanding of
the operation of the universe and the biosphere. Our ignorance limits our
ability to make moral decisions. We have the potential capability, not the
understanding.
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