wex@ittvax.UUCP (Alan Wexelblat) (07/18/83)
From Paul Torek:
The word "absolute" is vague. Does "absolute morality" mean
(a)one that is "binding" on all human beings?, or (b)one
that is binding on all rational beings?, or (c)one that can
never be overridden by non-moral considerations?, or (d)all
of the above?, or (e)other (please specify)?
My apologies for the vagueness of the word absolute. I meant 'absolute' to
be interpreted as: "binding on all creatures (rational or otherwise) that
we wish to call persons." These need not be homo sapiens, but the question
of what makes a person is another issue entirely.
But anyway, I'd like to object that maybe Kant DID do it,
whatever "doing it" means... Kant's moral philosophy has
been subject to much misinterpretation, and though I'm not
a student of Kant's works, I would like to suggest that it
is necessary to read a wide variety of suggested interpretations
of Kant, before judging the success or failure of Kant's arguments.
I am not accusing Alan Wexelblat of basing his views of Kant on
another philosopher's misinterpretations, but it is a possibility
to be wary of.
There is much to be said here, but in brief: I do not claim to be an expert
on Kant, but I claim that as a Philosophy student, I have studied under
people who ARE experts. Misinterpretations are a matter of opinion; if there
is enough interest, I will prepare an article covering briefly Kant's moral
philosphy, and its failures (at least, as I have been taught them).
(A quote from one of my earlier articles:)
5) Without non-moral goods existing,
there CANNOT be moral goods.
I think I agree -- if Alan Wexelblat means by "moral" that
which refers to one's responsibilities to others. I got
the impression that that's what he means when he used the
case of "a world of perfect altruists" to argue for 5).
What do you mean, Alan Wexelblat?
That is essentially correct. However, I am curious as to how you can agree
with this point, and still defend Kant. This line of reasoning is one of the
major attacks on his moral philosophy.
--Alan Wexelblat
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