Received: by alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk id LAA08642 (8.6.9/5.3[ref pg@gmsl.co.uk] for cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk from fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk); Thu, 28 Feb 2002 11:24:53 GMT Message-Id: <5.1.0.14.0.20020228061302.00b2d220@localhost> X-Sender: jakemaier/pop.abs.adelphia.net@localhost X-Mailer: QUALCOMM Windows Eudora Version 5.1 Date: Thu, 28 Feb 2002 06:19:23 -0500 To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk From: Joachim Maier <jakemaier@adelphia.net> Subject: Re: quotes that can In-Reply-To: <F3119HLPVHo3ZD1xQTa000103f3@hotmail.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed Sender: fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk Precedence: bulk Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
Scott,
I think it can be safely said that lying to Nazis to protect your friends
could be made a principle. That does not mean that lying in general is a
sound principle.
Most people would agree that walking is a healthy exercise. Nobody would
say walking over the edge of a cliff is healthy :)
Joachim
At 07:06 PM 2/27/2002 -0500, you wrote:
>>From: "Wade T.Smith" <wade_smith@harvard.edu>
>>Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
>>To: "memetics list" <memetics@mmu.ac.uk>
>>Subject: quotes that can
>>Date: Wed, 27 Feb 2002 08:39:47 -0500
>>
>>In my emailbox this morning-
>>
>>"So act that your principle of action might safely be made a law for the
>>whole world." -Immanuel Kant, philosopher (1724-1804)
>As the categorical imperative, doesn't that morsel of wisdom get into
>hairy situations when applying it to all sorts of stituations? The typical
>casuistric retort would be whether to lie to Nazis knocking at the front
>door if you are harboring Jews in your basement. Would you want the act of
>lying to become a law for the world? Yet would you say that your friends
>are hiding in the basement?
>
>There's the difference between acting on principles and considering
>consequences. What if by acting on general principle one inadvertantly
>sets the stage for the greatest evil on Earth?
>
>
>
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This was distributed via the memetics list associated with the
Journal of Memetics - Evolutionary Models of Information Transmission
For information about the journal and the list (e.g. unsubscribing)
see: http://www.cpm.mmu.ac.uk/jom-emit
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