4/9/2003: Iraqis protest

[juju]

Perhaps the problem with the Philosophy section is that philosophy is involved in nearly everything we do. :)

[smoothmoniker]

it underpins it, and provides the framework, but seldom with much forethought or intention. Still a good exercise to exorcise the presuppositions.

Especially if someone has the stones to pick up the guantlet and try to give a rational defense for moral relativism. That's just fun for the pickin.

-sm

[quzah]

Originally posted by juju

Dude, what the hell are you smoking? Are you saying that there is no good, only evil?

I'm not sure I understand what you're saying, but I suspect you're going for a cultural relativism angle. Even with this philosophy, there are still universal morals. For example, not torturing people is <i>always good</i>.

Hmm.. I suppose I mean there is no true wonderfully right way that you can cover everyone with and say "This works. This is right answer for everything." Besides, just not doing evil doesn't make you good.

I can not run old ladies in wheel chairs over in my car. It doesn't mean I'm good. It just means I'm not evil in that way.

So in effect, I'm the lesser of two evils in regards to that line of thought.

Here's another one for you:
Parents of Johnny (Johnny is always used in stories...) know he's sick. It is their firm belief that in the best interest of their child, they cover him in tea leaves and dance around him naked.

Conventional medicine tells us that if we pull out three of his teeth, it'll cure him.

It is long standing tradition and deep belief that this is a sin against humanity, at least in the child's and parent's eyes.

He dies because the tea leaf dance doesn't save him.

Are the parents evil? Are they good?

(I intentionally made this an abstracted scenario, but you'll easily spot the reference to similar real life incidents.)

Quzah.

[datalas]

The parents aren't evil or good, just stupid..

everyone *knows* that for teeth related illnesses you should use doc leaves not tea leaves.......

I just feel sorry for Johnny, had his gums not been so inflamed they might have used the correct foliage and this tragedy could have been overted..... I blame the government for blatent anti-doc-leaf actions.. It's leafist it is!

[xoxoxoBruce]

Oh sure ...blame the goverment for all ills.
How do you know it wasn't the leaf cartel?

[datalas]

Sssshhh......

don't mention the cartel they listen to our thoughts.....

[juju]

I believe you mean 'averted' instead of 'overted'.

[wolf]

The tragedy was actually "overted". Remember Johnny's life-threateneing overbite??