Religious Poll

[the hanging monkey]

No,it really doesn't.

What you would like has no bearing on reality.

And don't forget this

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euthyphro_dilemma

[Your Friendly Neighbourhood Postman]

No,it really doesn't.

What you would like has no bearing on reality.

And don't forget this

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euthyphro_dilemma

Oh, I read the Eutyphro in full myself, as well as almost all other dialogues by Plato. This one (a small volume) is a joy to read, by the way. It has less of the 'guiding or leading on' that Socrates does in some other books (e.g. the one where Socrates lets a slave find Pythagoras' Theorem all by himself).

But I read it long ago. Must do so again. At any rate, thanks for the link. I will try to see what bearing it has on my criticism towards the This World Version Of The Golden Rule.

[Davey the Fat Boy]

The Golden Rule is pretty useful. I wouldn't want to speak against it as an idea, as it is an extremely powerful one. But I think it is miscast as a stand-in for a societal moral code. Its biggest shortcoming in that context is that it gives each person license to judge how the other should be treated. So as long as you can create a justification for an action and tell yourself that the other person should want it because you would - you have a green light.

So go ahead and steal that old lady's money. She has plenty of it - more than she can use in her lifetime, and if she were thinking clearly she would want you to have it because you are going to use it in ways that benefit the community profoundly. When you get too old to make a logical determination that this is the best use of your money, you hope someone as noble as you will take matters into their own hands and absolve you of the burden of being unable to do so.

Narcissists love the Golden Rule. With it as their sole moral barometer, the world is their oyster.

[the hanging monkey]

Cheer up Dave, we've all been wrong before, you know

[Your Friendly Neighbourhood Postman]

The Golden Rule is pretty useful. I wouldn't want to speak against it as an idea, as it is an extremely powerful one. But I think it is miscast as a stand-in for a societal moral code. Its biggest shortcoming in that context is that it gives each person license to judge how the other should be treated. So as long as you can create a justification for an action and tell yourself that the other person should want it because you would - you have a green light.

So go ahead and steal that old lady's money. She has plenty of it - more than she can use in her lifetime, and if she were thinking clearly she would want you to have it because you are going to use it in ways that benefit the community profoundly. When you get too old to make a logical determination that this is the best use of your money, you hope someone as noble as you will take matters into their own hands and absolve you of the burden of being unable to do so.

Narcissists love the Golden Rule. With it as their sole moral barometer, the world is their oyster.

Excellent call, mr Davey Sir.

[Your Friendly Neighbourhood Postman]

Cheer up Dave, we've all been wrong before, you know

very funny, my esteemed opponent!

[BARON CORNY DOG]

I guess 57 pages wasn't enough.

[Davey the Fat Boy]

Narcissists love the Golden Rule. With it as their sole moral barometer, the world is their oyster.

How do you know it is their sole moral barometer?

I am not saying it is. Googa asserted that the Golden Rule alone was not enough. Monkey asked why. I answered.