Decisions are either rational or free. Rational decisions are the major type of decision that can resolve a situation if morality is involved provided that you have universal criteria to judge the situation.
What is a right action?
Re: What is a right action?
-
- Posts: 3905
- Joined: Tue Jul 18, 2017 3:53 pm
Re: What is a right action?
Just catching up on this discussion.
In my opinion, there are no morally right or wrong actions, but only actions that may be judged morally right or wrong. The modifiers '(morally) right', '(morally) wrong', 'good' and 'bad' or 'evil' express opinions about something, such as an action. And that's why there's no way to settle the dispute between moral assertions such as 'abortion is morally wrong' and 'abortion is not morally wrong'. They're not factual assertions with truth-value.
In my opinion, there are no morally right or wrong actions, but only actions that may be judged morally right or wrong. The modifiers '(morally) right', '(morally) wrong', 'good' and 'bad' or 'evil' express opinions about something, such as an action. And that's why there's no way to settle the dispute between moral assertions such as 'abortion is morally wrong' and 'abortion is not morally wrong'. They're not factual assertions with truth-value.
Re: What is a right action?
Incoherent nonsense.Peter Holmes wrote: ↑Mon Feb 15, 2021 1:58 pm In my opinion, there are no morally right or wrong actions, but only actions that may be judged morally right or wrong. The modifiers '(morally) right', '(morally) wrong', 'good' and 'bad' or 'evil' express opinions about something, such as an action. And that's why there's no way to settle the dispute between moral assertions such as 'abortion is morally wrong' and 'abortion is not morally wrong'. They're not factual assertions with truth-value.
I assert THAT your name is Peter Holmes.
I assert THAT murder is wrong.
If you insist that only one of the above can be assigned a truth-value, then you are going to have to explain how the assignment of truth-value to assertions works. Who assigns truth-value to assertions and how?
Given that the two sentences have an identical grammatical structure why is the modifier "Peter Holmes" not an opinion if the modifier "wrong" is an opinion?
Please explain without begging the question.
Re: What is a right action?
Decisions are decisions.
First you were trying to categorise them as "moral" and "immoral", now you've invented some new classification schema: rational and free.
Seems you are moving your own goal posts.
Re: What is a right action?
Free decisions are not biased whereas rational decisions are.
Re: What is a right action?
Bias is necessary for decisiveness.
Given the choice between A and B, bias towards B means choosing B and not A. Bias towards A means choosing A and not B.
To be unbiased is to be unable to choose A or B.
Re: What is a right action?
True.
True.
Not true.
Re: What is a right action?
Of course, you need to judge the situation in order to act. Judging is necessary for action.Peter Holmes wrote: ↑Mon Feb 15, 2021 1:58 pm Just catching up on this discussion.
In my opinion, there are no morally right or wrong actions, but only actions that may be judged morally right or wrong.
I was very precise in defining good and evil, right and wrong. The question which is left is that whether there is a universal criterion that allows us to judge the situation and choose between good and evil. This criterion exists, fairness.Peter Holmes wrote: ↑Mon Feb 15, 2021 1:58 pm The modifiers '(morally) right', '(morally) wrong', 'good' and 'bad' or 'evil' express opinions about something, such as an action.
Killing a person is wrong since it is not fair. The person could be a fetus. We however can find a reasonable solution for any situation related to abortion.Peter Holmes wrote: ↑Mon Feb 15, 2021 1:58 pm And that's why there's no way to settle the dispute between moral assertions such as 'abortion is morally wrong' and 'abortion is not morally wrong'. They're not factual assertions with truth-value.
Re: What is a right action?
You have a bias for both A and B but there is a tension in the situation that does not allow you to rationally decide. Can you still decide. Of course yes. You can choose A or B unconditionally, so-called free decision.
Re: What is a right action?
The moment you "unconditionally" or "freely" choose you are biased towards whatever your choice.
-
- Posts: 3905
- Joined: Tue Jul 18, 2017 3:53 pm
Re: What is a right action?
Do you think your defining (describing) moral rightness and wrongness, or good and evil, in terms of what you call fairness, settles the matter? Is what counts as fairness a settled, indisputable matter?bahman wrote: ↑Mon Feb 15, 2021 2:41 pmOf course, you need to judge the situation in order to act. Judging is necessary for action.Peter Holmes wrote: ↑Mon Feb 15, 2021 1:58 pm Just catching up on this discussion.
In my opinion, there are no morally right or wrong actions, but only actions that may be judged morally right or wrong.
I was very precise in defining good and evil, right and wrong. The question which is left is that whether there is a universal criterion that allows us to judge the situation and choose between good and evil. This criterion exists, fairness.Peter Holmes wrote: ↑Mon Feb 15, 2021 1:58 pm The modifiers '(morally) right', '(morally) wrong', 'good' and 'bad' or 'evil' express opinions about something, such as an action.
Killing a person is wrong since it is not fair. The person could be a fetus. We however can find a reasonable solution for any situation related to abortion.Peter Holmes wrote: ↑Mon Feb 15, 2021 1:58 pm And that's why there's no way to settle the dispute between moral assertions such as 'abortion is morally wrong' and 'abortion is not morally wrong'. They're not factual assertions with truth-value.
Sorry, but at the bottom is always a judgement - a matter of opinion - which is therefore subjective. The claims of moral realists and objectivists are false, or at least not shown to be true.
Re: What is a right action?
Ahhhh, the irony! What exactly makes a matter "indisputable"?Peter Holmes wrote: ↑Mon Feb 15, 2021 2:48 pm Do you think your defining (describing) moral rightness and wrongness, or good and evil, in terms of what you call fairness, settles the matter? Is what counts as fairness a settled, indisputable matter?
If the "indisputable" is disputed does that make it disputable or indisputable?
Objectively, there is no such thing as subjectivity.Peter Holmes wrote: ↑Mon Feb 15, 2021 2:48 pm Sorry, but at the bottom is always a judgement - a matter of opinion - which is therefore subjective. The claims of moral realists and objectivists are false, or at least not shown to be true.
Your subjective opinions are still objectively your opinions.
You hold them such as they are. Your opinions exist - they are features of reality. Facts.
The moral realists reject the double standards of those who abuse the objective/subjective distinction for their personal agendas.
- Terrapin Station
- Posts: 4548
- Joined: Wed Aug 03, 2016 7:18 pm
- Location: NYC Man
Re: What is a right action?
So no, apparently you can't give an example.Veritas Aequitas wrote: ↑Mon Feb 15, 2021 8:04 am There are tons of research on 'animal mind'.
Just google "animal mind research"
- Terrapin Station
- Posts: 4548
- Joined: Wed Aug 03, 2016 7:18 pm
- Location: NYC Man