Subject:
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Re: Don Quixote puts away his lance (was Re: McDonalds set
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.off-topic.debate
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Date:
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Tue, 28 Sep 1999 19:55:53 GMT
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Viewed:
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2810 times
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In lugnet.off-topic.debate, Josh Spaulding writes:
> I don't want to dwell on the morality topic, since it seems that it's being
> beaten into the ground. But I will say this:
>
> I think that the highest form of morality stems from compassion - the ability
> to
> experience the suffering of others as if it were your own. Actions which
> increase suffering, therefore, are generally immoral, while actions which
> decrease suffering are virtuous.
>
> The problem comes when you attempt to bridge the gap between morality an
> legality. Compassion is such a maleable, case-specific phenomenon that even if
> it were possible to legislate compassion, it might not be desirable.
Do you think morality is internal (only I can determine if I am moral), or
external (you can determine if I am moral)?
If external, then who defines morality?
> In the Heinz example, I think the druggist has a MORAL obligation to sell the
> drug to Heinz (barring extenuating circumstances), but it would be problematic
> to impose a LEGAL obligation, since it would effectively destroy the
> profitability of the pharmaceutical/medical profession.
I disagree. Only the druggist can determine if he has a moral obligation to
sell. You and I (representing society) can determine if he has an ethical or
legal obligation, however.
James
http://www.shades-of-night.com/lego/
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Message has 1 Reply:
 | | Re: Don Quixote puts away his lance
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| (...) Reading some of your posts, I see that you carefully differentiate self-defined "morals" and socially defined "ethics." The problem I have with this dichotomy is that it is impotent (no "r") to avoid imposing one's own morality on others. If I (...) (27 years ago, 29-Sep-99, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)
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