Introducing Myself
Posted: Thu Feb 09, 2023 10:34 pm
Hello. I'm a nearly 50-year-old man in the state of Maryland but soon to be moving to Texas. In December 2021, I somehow developed an interest in philosophy. I'd been exposed to some Stoic thought that kindled a craving to know more. Twenty-five years ago, I gave up on Christianity, and I remain highly skeptical of religion. I refuse to believe anything without a good reason, better than that the belief is presented in some old book. Humans have the ability to reason, and we should use it. Now I consider myself a rationalist, if I have to define my world view in one word.
Since December 2021, I've subscribed to Philosophy Now, and I've found it interesting. In my philosophical meanderings, I find that I'm particularly interested in ethics. I also have an interest in criminal justice, and my own area of inquiry is along these lines: Is human nature good or bad? I read recently that ancient Chinese philosopher Mengzi thought it was good, likening people to sprouts that just need to be properly watered. Xunxi, on the other hand, thought humans bad, likening them to workmen who had to use skills to work at being good, countering their nature.
My questions are:
1) What does it mean to be good? (Yes, that question is an oldie but goodie);
2) Are people by nature good or bad?;
3) Can goodness be taught?;
4) Can goodness be legislated?;
5) How should "badness" be punished? Are prisons the answer? Do prisons release people better than they were when they entered?;
6) Are prisons good or bad?;
7) Finally, decades into the drug war, can we say whether drug dealers have moral status? If not, should they?
It would be great to find a community in North Texas where people discuss these issues, but I'll settle for online dialogue if that's all I can get.
Thanks for reading!
Since December 2021, I've subscribed to Philosophy Now, and I've found it interesting. In my philosophical meanderings, I find that I'm particularly interested in ethics. I also have an interest in criminal justice, and my own area of inquiry is along these lines: Is human nature good or bad? I read recently that ancient Chinese philosopher Mengzi thought it was good, likening people to sprouts that just need to be properly watered. Xunxi, on the other hand, thought humans bad, likening them to workmen who had to use skills to work at being good, countering their nature.
My questions are:
1) What does it mean to be good? (Yes, that question is an oldie but goodie);
2) Are people by nature good or bad?;
3) Can goodness be taught?;
4) Can goodness be legislated?;
5) How should "badness" be punished? Are prisons the answer? Do prisons release people better than they were when they entered?;
6) Are prisons good or bad?;
7) Finally, decades into the drug war, can we say whether drug dealers have moral status? If not, should they?
It would be great to find a community in North Texas where people discuss these issues, but I'll settle for online dialogue if that's all I can get.
Thanks for reading!