Greatest Good (moral, doctrine, moral)

[Aasimar]

Originally Posted by Random

You cannot eliminate suffering by contingent suffering.

But that's the dillema. It's not eliminating suffering, it's alleviating the suffering of all with the exception of one. Would the benefits outweigh the loss? I don't know, I'd need to do some more reading and thinking to come up with an answer I felt was honest on this, to me this dillema is very real. It's easy to dismiss it as obviously immoral, but then again you have the opportunity to end far more suffering then you inflict.

[lunamoth]

Originally Posted by Aasimar

But that's the dillema. It's not eliminating suffering, it's alleviating the suffering of all with the exception of one. Would the benefits outweigh the loss? I don't know, I'd need to do some more reading and thinking to come up with an answer I felt was honest on this, to me this dillema is very real. It's easy to dismiss it as obviously immoral, but then again you have the opportunity to end far more suffering then you inflict.

Ivan's comment is asking Alyosha about God.

[Aasimar]

Originally Posted by lunamoth

Ivan's comment is asking Alyosha about God.

Yeah, but I was just using it as a real-life scenario. To me that question can be a double-edged sword with God, because there is suffering and he allows it (If you assume he exists.) So which side of the spectrum would he actually be on? I honestly don't think there is an easy answer to this, like I said would take a lot of reading.

[lunamoth]

Originally Posted by Aasimar

Yeah, but I was just using it as a real-life scenario. To me that question can be a double-edged sword with God, because there is suffering and he allows it (If you assume he exists.) So which side of the spectrum would he actually be on? I honestly don't think there is an easy answer to this, like I said would take a lot of reading.

There's not an easy answer. I'm not sure if you can find the answer in reading, but personal exploration of the boundaries is a pretty important endeavor anyway.

[Aasimar]

Originally Posted by lunamoth

There's not an easy answer. I'm not sure if you can find the answer in reading, but personal exploration of the boundaries is a pretty important endeavor anyway.

Indeed it is. But I try to never turn away from new knowledge, unfortunately I still have to finish "Atlas Shrugged." Then "The Subtle Knife," Then "The Case for a Creator."

I love reading, but sometimes I wish I was faster lol.

[lunamoth]

Originally Posted by Aasimar

Indeed it is. But I try to never turn away from new knowledge, unfortunately I still have to finish "Atlas Shrugged." Then "The Subtle Knife," Then "The Case for a Creator."

I love reading, but sometimes I wish I was faster lol.

OK, this is derailing my own thread, but while I really liked reading Atlas Shrugged, I think Rand's objectivism is a terrible and frightening philosophy.

[Aasimar]

Originally Posted by lunamoth

OK, this is derailing my own thread, but while I really liked reading Atlas Shrugged, I think Rand's objectivism is a terrible and frightening philosophy.

Yeah, I've read "The Fountainhead" and I liked it quite a bit. I strongly agree with Rand on a lot of things, though not everything. I'm definitely opposed to mindless altruism. I hear Atlas Shrugged greatly clarifies her philosophy so I'm kinda withholding judgment on it until I'm finished.