Ethics?

[Bahman]

I was thinking of opening a thread on ethics for a while so here you can find a summery of my thoughts on the subject matters which is very simple. Ethics is based on two pillars: 1) All beings are equal from divine justice point of view since we are all conscious being, 2) Our actions can be categorized into two main fields of right and wrong. Consciousness by definition is the essence of any being with the ability to experience and create (it is very simple to see that we are equal from divine justice point of view since we are all conscious beings). Right action by definition is an action aimed to fulfill a purpose to the best degree. Wrong action by definition is an action which ignore the purpose even to a minimal degree. Purpose by definition is set of facts which builds our world view based on best understanding of our natures and what rules the rest of cosmos.

Your thoughts?

 

[Gorgias]

Consciousness by definition is the essence of any being with the ability to experience and create

This is a definition of ‘consciousness’ that you keep trying to foist on folks, but it tends to be rejected. It might, yet again, derail a thread. Perhaps it’s sufficient to say that your argument applies to conscious beings, without specifying what that entails.

Right action by definition is an action aimed to fulfill a purpose to the best degree.

From the point of view of ethics? No, that definition doesn’t work. Abortion is an action that is aimed to fulfill a purpose; abortion is not ethical.

Wrong action by definition is an action which ignore the purpose even to a minimal degree.

Again, this is not a definition grounded in ethics. Applicability to a given goal, perhaps, but not ethics. Unless, of course, what you’re attempting to imply is that ethics is nothing more than utilitarianism.

Purpose by definition is set of facts which builds our world view based on best understanding of our natures and what rules the rest of cosmos.

An ethics which is based on a ‘world view’ is at best subjective and at worst purely arbitrary. A Christian Ethics is based not on ‘world views’ or ‘understandings’, or even on ‘rules’ or a ‘cosmos’, but rather, is based on God and His desires for us.

 

[Bahman]

This is a definition of ‘consciousness’ that you keep trying to foist on folks, but it tends to be rejected. It might, yet again, derail a thread. Perhaps it’s sufficient to say that your argument applies to conscious beings, without specifying what that entails.

You cannot complain about the definition when you neither provide a better definition nor present what is the problem with it. Moreover, that definition is needed to ensure that how similar we are.

From the point of view of ethics? No, that definition doesn’t work. Abortion is an action that is aimed to fulfill a purpose; abortion is not ethical.

You cannot claim that that definition does not work when you don’t notice the definition of purpose. Moreover, you did not provide any argument that why abortion could be universally wrong under any circumstances. Take the example that life of the mother is in danger if the abortion is not performed. Take the example of a family who could not possibly support any kid because of financial troubles. Take the example of a girl who has unwanted pregnancy and cannot give the birth to kid because of cultural issues, for example her father kill her if he notices. This list is endless.

Again, this is not a definition grounded in ethics. Applicability to a given goal, perhaps, but not ethics.

Could you please elaborate?

Unless, of course, what you’re attempting to imply is that ethics is nothing more than utilitarianism.

That is not correct given the definition of utilitarianism.

An ethics which is based on a ‘world view’ is at best subjective and at worst purely arbitrary.

Yes, it is subjective and it is not arbitrary. What is the problem with being subjective?

A Christian Ethics is based not on ‘world views’ or ‘understandings’, or even on ‘rules’ or a ‘cosmos’, but rather, is based on God and His desires for us.

That is not correct because you cannot possibly say that your belief is not a world view. That is the way that you accept the reality hence it is a world view even if it is not based on any understanding. Whether your world view corresponds to God is subject of discussion and you have no bases to defend it since your belief system at best is a claim. Moreover, whoever you consider as supreme being, God, has no right to impose any ethical laws on us since he desires something for us. That is correct if you accept the definition of consciousness, we are all same, and also consider the fact that we have own our right to accept a set of ethical laws based on our own understanding since we are intellectual beings.