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Daily Dose of Reason -
Ethics
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Written by Michael J. Hurd, Ph.D.
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Thursday, 18 August 2011 00:00 |
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 People claim that mental health and ethics are two completely different, and mutually exclusive, things.
They're not. What does ethics consist of? Essentially, taking responsibility for your actions. "Taking responsibility" implies a lot of different things. These things include: focusing, concentrating, considering all the relevant facts of a situation, looking at things objectively (including yourself), and using rational thought to plan sensible, self-interested action.
How in the world could you ever act responsibly without a proper mental state of mind? And won't acting
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Read more... [Goodness and Mental Health]
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Daily Dose of Reason -
Ethics
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Written by Michael J. Hurd, Ph.D.
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Saturday, 23 July 2011 00:00 |
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 Is there such a thing as a duty to others?
Yes: To leave them alone. And that's it. There is no given, preexisting duty to others, outside of this.
Once you CHOOSE to associate with particular others, then there are new duties that arise. These obligations arise as the result of your choice. If you choose to associate with others personally or professionally, you have an obligation to be honest. You should want to be honest, because this is how you expect to be
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Read more... [The Ethical Basis for a Free Country]
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Daily Dose of Reason -
Ethics
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Written by Michael J. Hurd, Ph.D.
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Wednesday, 20 July 2011 00:00 |
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 Richard Nixon said: "Always remember that others may hate you but those who hate you don't win unless you hate them. And then you destroy yourself."
Intuitively, most people agree, or want to agree, with this quote. But I see many problems with it.
First of all, if hating another is wrong, then what is the alternative? Love them? Like them? Be indifferent towards them? If you think of
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Read more... [Is Hatred Actually So Bad?]
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Daily Dose of Reason -
Ethics
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Written by Michael J. Hurd, Ph.D.
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Tuesday, 12 July 2011 00:00 |
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 Politicians talk of the need for "shared sacrifice." The translation of this means: Those of you who already pay taxes will now be required to pay more in taxes, so government programs may stay in place and continue to expand, despite a declining economy.
I have a few questions about "shared sacrifice."
First of all, by what defensible standard is sacrifice a good thing? Some claim that sacrifice is noble. But isn't such alleged nobility done in the context of a voluntary act? For example, it's said that a man who saves a person from drowning is making
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Read more... [Shared Sacrifice" ?!]
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Daily Dose of Reason -
Ethics
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Written by Michael J. Hurd, Ph.D.
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Thursday, 23 June 2011 00:00 |
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 A hypocrite is someone who claims agreement with a principle or idea, and in practice displays just the opposite.
Hypocrites are different from wishy-washy people. Wishy-washy people don't know what their principles are; hypocrites do. Hypocrites give principles a bad name, because they weaken the belief that ideas matter by refusing to take their own ideas seriously.
All human beings have ideas, at least implicit ones. Anyone who feels anything at all
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Read more... [Walking the Talk: The Psychology of Hypocrisy]
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