What moral system do you subscribe to?

[BurtReynolds]

I'd put this in the ethics thread, but I want a poll. What moral/ethical system do you subscribe to? This isn't an exhaustive list and the definitions are crude and some of them blend into others, but you get the idea.

Utilitarianism/consequentialism/hedonism - Morals based on maximizing pleasure or happiness, usually for the greatest number. Whether an act is right or wrong depends only on the results of that act.

Deontological/Kantian ethics - Duty based. Having a moral intent and following the right rules is a better path to ethical conduct than achieving the right results.

Subjectivism - There are no objective moral facts. Morals depend on the culture or individual, etc.

Egoism - Self-interest should be the basis of all values and morals. It is always moral to promote one's own good, and it is never moral not to promote it.

Emotivism - Moral statements are meaningless. Moral statements only express the speaker's feelings about the issue.

Virtue Ethics - Emphasizes the value of virtuous qualities rather than formal rules or useful results. The right thing to do in a given situation is what a good or virtuous person would do.

Divine Command/Supernaturalism - God decides what is right and wrong. Something is good because God says it is.

Natural Rights/Social Contract - People are endowed with natural rights that must be respected.

Situationalism - Right and wrong depend upon the situation. There are no moral rules, only guidelines.

Other.

Last edited by BurtReynolds on Sat May 28, 2022 2:51 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[BurtReynolds]

Maybe I should have added hedonism, but it's included in consequentialism now.

[simple schoolboy]

More like what spooks do you subscribe to.

[BurtReynolds]

More like what spooks do you subscribe to.

Amen to that, brother.

[JuanHamm]

Which one is easiest?

[BurtReynolds]

Which one is easiest?

I forgot Intuitionism - what is good is good. If you don't know what is good, then I can't help you. You either know it or you don't.

[elliseamos]

Which one is "treat others how you want to be treated"?

Masochism?

[Mickey]

I haven't thought about ethical philosophy since undergrad--in general I found it to be kind of a dead end, at least practically speaking, and became much more interested in political philosophy and critical theory.

Kantian ethics were always a no-go for me. I think given the options on this list I operate mostly like a situationalist, but I'm pretty doubtful about the existence of "objective moral facts."

[BurtReynolds]

Which one is "treat others how you want to be treated"?

Masochism?

I guess it depends on why you believe that.

Is it because...

...Jesus said it? Divine Command

...It a universal moral duty arrived at through reason? Kantian

...it maximizes happiness in the world? Utilitarian

...it's ultimately in your self interests? Egoist.

...that's what your culture values? Subjectivist.

...it's a virtue and a good person acts virtuously? Virtue ethicist

and so on.

I'm basically a type of egoist and think that most of these reduce to self interest...except maybe Kantianism, but that guy was pretty far out there.

[elliseamos]

I don't know.

That's my whole approach to life. Full stop.

But definitely not Jesus. Never practiced anything and am an atheist.

[Bammer]

Depends who I’m in a room with.

[BurtReynolds]

3 votes. It's as I suspected. This is how most RMers determine right and wrong:

[E.H. Ruddock]

I determine right and wrong even at this point mostly by my life experiences. What does that make me?

[BurtReynolds]

I determine right and wrong even at this point mostly by my life experiences. What does that make me?

Utilitarian probably. Most moderns are.

[wease]

I just do what ruddo tells me to do.

[washing machine]

I scoff at virtue signaling but I think virtue ethics is closest to what I subscribe to. I think good character is like that famous supreme court description of porn: hard to define, but you know it when you see it. Maybe that concept bleeds more into Burt's definition of emotivism? Except I tend to think of morality as it relates to a person's character rather than a person's actions. I think that you can do a "wrong" thing but be "right" if you are being consistent with a big picture theme as it relates to virtuous character. The Robinhood concept, to give a quick example. That's probably situationism, I'd guess. Do we really have only one option?

[BurtReynolds]

Virtue ethics would probably be in my top 3, depending who gets to decide what a virtue is.

[Dev]

I use the bad boy super system.

[BurtReynolds]

I use the bad boy super system.

Is that like the D.E.N.N.I.S. system?

[BurtReynolds]

Robin Hood would be more of a utilitarian. Ends (justice) justify the means (theft, violence). Redistribution of wealth (most happiness for most people). Outcome based ethics.