chuckster
Member
Registered: Aug 2001
Location: Maryland Go Terps!
Posts: 59 |
quote:
Originally posted by dietrichbohn
Why I think Object Utilitarianism is a good ethical standard upon which to base laws:
1) It makes no statement with regard to religion, class, race, gender, etc.
2) It is justified by the mutual benefit of a society, which is probably the best common ethical denominator around, unlike systems based on God, or the words of Confucious, or something else.
3) It can contain general principles upon which laws can be based. Unlike standard utilitarianism, which is often interpreted to be an individualistic, case-by-case ethics.
4) It is easily understood by many people, unlike a kind of Universal Imperative theory, which usually gets bogged down in its own attempts to justify itself.
Downsides:
1) Personal freedom is guaranteed only insofar as it benefits the society as a whole
2) The primary justification, the benefit of society as a whole, is open to interpetation and mis-interpretation. i.e. it isn't the absolute, undeniable, and universally agreed-upon word of god. (but does such a thing exist, anyway?)
...but I think the downsides are easily overcome, and pale in comparison to the benefits.
The points/guidelines that you made earlier are excellent ones. I agree with them. But as you said, they are "open to interpretation and mis-interpretation". But then again, so is the Bible, or any other religious text. Society will NEVER agree on a single interpretation of the Bible, then again, the majority of the people don't even believe the Bible to be true.
Those who believe in the Bible (I myself am included), should apply the ethics and morals taught in it to our own lives. We should also hove complete tolorance and understanding of those who do not share the same beliefs. Every person has the right to believe how they choose, and that is a God-given gift. Lets just worry about making ourselves better people.
As for the law, the founding fathers established a system in which the people can choose those who will represent them. Society needs to take a more active roll in politics, so the laws that are established provide the ethical standards that we would like them to. If, they don't say exactly what we want them to, it is still our duty to obey the law of the land.
Last edited by chuckster on 08-20-2001 at 09:01 PM
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08-20-2001 04:10 PM
Reread the 2nd and 3rd posts. The 3rd post contains 4 requirements that I think and ethical system ought to have in order to be a sound basis for U.S. laws.
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