Dive into the complexities of morality from a modern naturalist viewpoint. Explore how we construct ethical stances from basic impulses and logic, using real-world controversies like vegetarianism as a backdrop. Discuss the differences between moral realism and subjective interpretations. Unpack the biases that influence our reasoning and consider the role of empathy in respectful communication. This thoughtful exploration invites listeners to reflect deeply on what it truly means to be a good person in today’s society.
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Ethical Frameworks
Morality has two aspects: rules of behavior (ethics) and how we justify those rules (metaethics).
Consider deontology (rules-based) and consequentialism (outcome-based) approaches.
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Challenges to Ethical Systems
Deontology faces the issue of rules conflicting with the right action in specific scenarios.
Consequentialism, like utilitarianism, can lead to undesirable outcomes like the "Repugnant Conclusion".
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Moral Realism vs. Anti-Realism
Moral realism posits objective moral truths, while anti-realism views morality as subjective.
Sean Carroll, presuming naturalism, doesn't see objective moral rules in the physical universe.
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Published in 1869, 'The Subjection of Women' is an essay by John Stuart Mill that argues against the social and legal inequalities faced by women. Mill contends that the inferior status of women is not based on natural differences but rather on social customs and historical power dynamics. He compares the status of women to that of slaves, highlighting the lack of legal rights, including property ownership and suffrage. Mill advocates for women's education, employment opportunities, and the reform of marriage laws to achieve greater equality. The essay, influenced significantly by his wife Harriet Taylor Mill, was a groundbreaking call for gender equality and had a significant impact on the women's rights movement despite facing criticism and controversy at the time of its publication[1][5][4].
Something Deeply Hidden
Quantum Worlds and the Emergence of Spacetime
Sean M. Carroll
In this book, Sean Carroll argues that the crisis in physics since 1927, stemming from the gaps in quantum mechanics, can be resolved by accepting the Many-Worlds theory. He explains that every quantum event results in the creation of multiple worlds, each with different outcomes. Carroll tackles major objections to this theory and provides a lucid explanation of how it reconciles quantum mechanics with Einstein’s theory of relativity. The book challenges conventional notions of reality and offers a new understanding of our place in the universe and the nature of spacetime.
The big picture
Derek Monsey
Thinking, Fast and Slow
Daniel Kahneman
In this book, Daniel Kahneman takes readers on a tour of the mind, explaining how the two systems of thought shape our judgments and decisions. System 1 is fast, automatic, and emotional, while System 2 is slower, effortful, and logical. Kahneman discusses the impact of cognitive biases, the difficulties of predicting future happiness, and the effects of overconfidence on corporate strategies. He offers practical insights into how to guard against mental glitches and how to benefit from slow thinking in both personal and business life. The book also explores the distinction between the 'experiencing self' and the 'remembering self' and their roles in our perception of happiness.
Merchants of doubt
Naomi Oreskes
In 'Merchants of Doubt', historians Naomi Oreskes and Erik M. Conway expose how a loose-knit group of high-level scientists, with deep connections in politics and industry, ran effective campaigns to mislead the public and deny well-established scientific knowledge over four decades. The book highlights how the same individuals repeatedly denied the truth of studies linking smoking to lung cancer, coal smoke to acid rain, and CFCs to the ozone hole, all while promoting an ideology of free market fundamentalism aided by a compliant media.
What does it mean to be a good person? To act ethically and morally in the world? In the old days we might appeal to the instructions we get from God, but a modern naturalist has to look elsewhere. Today I do a rare solo podcast, where I talk both about my personal views on morality, a variety of “constructivism” according to which human beings construct their ethical stances starting from basic impulses, logical reasoning, and communicating with others. In light of this view, I consider two real-world examples of contemporary moral controversies: Is it morally permissible to eat meat? Or is there an ethical imperative to be a vegetarian? Do inequities in society stem from discrimination, or from the natural order of things? As a jumping-off point I take the loose-knit group known as the Intellectual Dark Web, which includes Jordan Peterson, Sam Harris, Ben Shapiro, and others, and their nemeses the Social Justice Warriors (though the discussion is about broader issues, not just that group of folks). Probably everyone will agree with my takes on these issues once they listen to my eminently reasonable arguments. Actually this is a more conversational, exploratory episode, rather than a polished, tightly-argued case from start to finish. I don’t claim to have all the final answers. The hope is to get people thinking and conversing, not to settle things once and for all. These issues are, on the one hand, very tricky, and none of us should be too certain that we have everything figured out; on the other hand, they can get very personal, and consequently emotions run high. The issues are important enough that we have to talk about them, and we can at least aspire to do so in the most reasonable way possible. Support Mindscape on Patreon or Paypal.
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