Philosophy
So, Kerry's teaching a course looking philosophically at the seven deadly sins -- greed, lust, pride, happy, sleepy, dopey, and doc -- those ways of being that give one a propensity for acting in unacceptable ways. He asked a great question the other day, "Does the list need updating?" So, I want to throw it open.
I'd start by removing sloth, but I'm too lazy to come up with a good argument for it right now.
I would add dehumanization. It is so easy to take those who disagree with us politically, those who look different than we do, those who speak a different language, or who fall in love with people we would never fall in love with, and make them out to be less than fully human. This leads to a withholding of empathy and that is the opening of a Pandora's box morally, socially, and politically.
So, independent of theological concerns, just looking at the moral ramifications, greed, lust, anger, gluttony, pride, sloth, envy, any of these overblown and should be removed? Have any add-vice on what else might go on the list in terms of those proclivities that lead to less than desirable action?
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On the way in this morning, the classical station played Rossini's "Sins of Old Age," a title that begs for consideration. There is surely a time before adulthood when one is not fully able to be a complete moral agent because of lack of knowledge,...
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Philosophy
Updating the Seven Deadly Sins
So, Kerry's teaching a course looking philosophically at the seven deadly sins -- greed, lust, pride, happy, sleepy, dopey, and doc -- those ways of being that give one a propensity for acting in unacceptable ways. He asked a great question the other day, "Does the list need updating?" So, I want to throw it open.
I'd start by removing sloth, but I'm too lazy to come up with a good argument for it right now.
I would add dehumanization. It is so easy to take those who disagree with us politically, those who look different than we do, those who speak a different language, or who fall in love with people we would never fall in love with, and make them out to be less than fully human. This leads to a withholding of empathy and that is the opening of a Pandora's box morally, socially, and politically.
So, independent of theological concerns, just looking at the moral ramifications, greed, lust, anger, gluttony, pride, sloth, envy, any of these overblown and should be removed? Have any add-vice on what else might go on the list in terms of those proclivities that lead to less than desirable action?
- Fat Tuesday: The Honest Holiday
Playground regulars know of my holiday hypothesis. "Holiday" comes from "holy day" and while we claim that our holidays commemorate virtue, actually they function as controlled outlets for vice. Thanksgiving is not about gratitude, it is about...
- Sins Of Old Age: Is Ethics Age-dependent?
On the way in this morning, the classical station played Rossini's "Sins of Old Age," a title that begs for consideration. There is surely a time before adulthood when one is not fully able to be a complete moral agent because of lack of knowledge,...
- Holidays Are Hypocrisy
Brothers, Sisters, and Transgendered Comedists everywhere, New bit I'm working on: Yes, Christmas comes but once a year. Kinda like being married... You know, I have a theory about the holidays. Holidays are hypocrisy. The term "holiday" comes from...
- Do You Have To Do Something To Do Something Good?
Whenever I teach ethics, one point in Kant's discussion that always gives rise to an interesting conversation is his claim that for an act to be of moral worth, it cannot serve any positive purpose for the person who does it. Even if it just makes...
- Holidays And The Seven Deadly Sins
Halloween's a weird one for us. The shorties don't eat candy, but we feel like we're depriving them of the experience not taking them trick or treating. So they get to go door to door having friendly people give them brightly colored wrappers...