Topics Ethics

Question In terms of the meaning of life, I look at how humanity has managed to claw itself up from hitting each other with rocks to a fairly impressive level of civilisation. Since there is no discernible point to Mankind, perhaps just a furthering of humanity should be the aim? I try to base my morals on this ideal, as well as relying on empathy. Does the panel think that this is a reliable base for morality?

Accepted:
November 18, 2005

Comments

What you propose is a start, but not yet a "reliable base," as you put it. Problems lurk here: Just "furthering humanity" may in the long run actually lead our own species (and many others) into extinction--especially given our proven propensity to gooble up the earth's resources and spew out pollutants at great cost to the environment. At a certain point (and I am not sure we are not already there--indeed, I am inclined to think we are already there), I think humanity needs to consider making some fairly extensive concessions to ceasing our aggressions against other species and the environment even if doing so comes at a substantial cost to our present well-being.

Moreover, many ethical problems derive from our need to make judgments that require us to provide advantages to some, but not all human beings. For example, money that I spend on my children's education could also be spent on relieving hunger or for that matter on educating others--including others whose aptitude and desire for education is arguably greater than my children's. How do I follow the goal of "help humanity" in making such decisions, and how do other values (such as the value of families, and of personal responsibilities we have to specific individuals) figure in? So, I would advise that more than the base you propose is necessary, for adequacy.

I should also say that I have reservations about your view of history. As I read the newspaper each morning, I find I am not much impressed with how civilized we have become, relative to our distant ancestors--at least in the area of ethical action. We do much better, of course, in technological areas...but now we use sophisticated weaponry and suicide bombings instead of rocks. I would prefer going back to the rocks, frankly!