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spike wrote:
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<pre wrap="">...On Behalf Of BillK
Subject: Re: [ExI] to install
On 6/3/10, spike wrote:
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<pre wrap=""> Ja Emlyn but you may be crediting the memeset for their good
character and wellbeing, when the credit should go to the genes.
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<pre wrap="">Oh,ohh. I think you're making that up Spike. ;)
Physical characteristics are inherited, not acquired traits...
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Ja. What my notion does is to attribute to some degree one's moral
intuition as a physical characteristic as opposed to an entirely acquired
trait.
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<pre wrap="">If you claim that good morals are inherited, then logically
you also have to claim that bad morals are inherited, and
that leads on to eugenics and attempts to clean the bad genes
out of the gene pool, mass sterilisations, abortions, etc... BillK
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I see the concern, however we as a species do not entirely agree on what are
good morals and bad morals. Our notions are usually similar but in a few
stark cases, are exactly opposite.
As an example, there are those who believe in a strong version of
individuality. The sturdy individual packs up a few rudamentary tools,
strikes out alone for the Alaskan back country, carves out a niche with
muscle, courage and determination, lives out her life as a wilderness
pioneer. That appeals to me. Then there is one who might argue this is
sinful selfishness, that one with this kinds of talent and energy should go
live in the big city, use it to the betterment of all humanity. Then there
are those who think that on the contrary, humanity already has all the
breaks, and that all our energy should be devoted to helping beasts rather
than helping humanity.
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Both of those have no relationship as stated with any sort of rational
ethics. It is implying that all ethics are arbitrary choices of self
or society and there is no such thing as an ethics grounded in
reality. That is a very dangerous notion. <br>
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My notion is that this predisposition to one or more of these three moral
positions (individuality, humanity, beastiality) is at least partially a
function of the brain's hard wiring, not strictly to influences.
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What about what you THINK! Are you just a machine governed by your
genetics and whatever culture you landed in or can you think and choose
rationally your ethics? If you cannot then the only way to change the
general ethical behavior of human societies is by eugenics and mass
re-education (programming through new influences). Both have been
tried with bloody and appalling results.<br>
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- s<br>
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