This is a really intriguing idea. Two criticisms though. Wouldn't this justify the ability to get away with any self serving crimes that you could get away with? As in if no one would find out, you could steal a million dollars.
Also I don't see how a society like this could field armies. Being a soldier is terrible for life but sometimes necessary for a society
"Evaluative concepts (e.g., “good,” “bad”) aren’t mystical or arbitrary—they are based on the fact that living organisms act to achieve goals in order to survive."
This is the fallacy of description vs prescription.
Observing how living organisms "act" is a description ("people are doing X"), but it does nothing to prescribe what anyone "should" be doing.
Survival and reproduction maximization is not a strategy anyone is "obligated" or "objectively" required to do.
Just finished reading the introduction. Lovely clear writing, there’s no doubt what you mean and no frustration so far getting what you mean. Good start!
So looking forward to reading your book, this essay has already helped me understand some of the principles of objectivism that I was struggling with.
This is a really intriguing idea. Two criticisms though. Wouldn't this justify the ability to get away with any self serving crimes that you could get away with? As in if no one would find out, you could steal a million dollars.
Also I don't see how a society like this could field armies. Being a soldier is terrible for life but sometimes necessary for a society
"Evaluative concepts (e.g., “good,” “bad”) aren’t mystical or arbitrary—they are based on the fact that living organisms act to achieve goals in order to survive."
This is the fallacy of description vs prescription.
Observing how living organisms "act" is a description ("people are doing X"), but it does nothing to prescribe what anyone "should" be doing.
Survival and reproduction maximization is not a strategy anyone is "obligated" or "objectively" required to do.
Just finished reading the introduction. Lovely clear writing, there’s no doubt what you mean and no frustration so far getting what you mean. Good start!