01-16-2019, 05:39 AM
In that case, we really don't have much to argue about...I'm not talking about good and evil as principles like the laws of physics, more like the same sense in which you use the term 'self interest'.
It seems to me though that the world is full of people who believe that their 'self interest' does not correlate with those of other people, and that there is thus no reason why they shouldn't hurt them. Your pragmatic code of ethics is quite admirable, but I would hesitate to recommend it as a general principle since it could be interpreted in very selfish ways.
I agree that it would be a perfect code of ethics for a world of rational actors. I don't believe that world is the one we live in, but perhaps someday it will be.
It seems to me though that the world is full of people who believe that their 'self interest' does not correlate with those of other people, and that there is thus no reason why they shouldn't hurt them. Your pragmatic code of ethics is quite admirable, but I would hesitate to recommend it as a general principle since it could be interpreted in very selfish ways.
I agree that it would be a perfect code of ethics for a world of rational actors. I don't believe that world is the one we live in, but perhaps someday it will be.