h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I think Ed's right about the category thing.

It would have been better if one had helped more.

It would not have been as good had one helped less.

Was it good or evil? Only relatively so.

Elsewhere, I've coined the term 'The Democratic Conversation'.

In all but a few areas, there will inevitably be disagreement on morality (where 'morality' = 'the best way to conduct ourselves'). And yet decisions must be taken. The way we do this is to talk amongst ourselves - and then someone acts. Someone else will disagree with the action. That's democracy for yer. It doesn't mean 'everyone agreeing'. It means doing what most people feel is kinda right. mostly, sort of.

When I'm not working for a living, I sometimes find myself involved in making moral decisions that affect the lives of children and their families who appear before Scottish Children's Panels on which I sit. (http://www.childrens-hearings.co.uk/) Decisions are made by majority in a three-person panel. About one time in four, onen person diagrees. I always say that this doesn't mean that one person is 'wrong' and the other two 'right' - just that one person sees it different. And in any case - there are almost nevcer perfect decisions; merely the best worst.

And for that matter, a majority vote was never a reliable measure of morality.

Remember Benjamin Franklin: "Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch>"

Nevertheless, it's the best we can do. The key is to develop a panel that doesn't include wolves, I suppose. I admire your perseverence in the face of the certain knowledge that some of the decisions you make will be the wrong ones.

Well someone's got to make them. It might as well be me as some other eejit.

Like the saying, sometimes it doesn't matter so much about being right, as being definite.

which, I might say, is not really something I agree with.

However, supports of leaders like Putin (to name but one topical leader) seem to think it is important. And it must be said that Russia has done well out of it. Russian citizens, not so well. But that's another story.

*Floating Ethics*:

http://www.philosophyblog.com.au/ethics-without-god/

Interesting.