Ham:
Your assertion that objective reasoning necessarily lacks moral integrity is
unfounded. Even "intuitive reason"
is based on relational principles. I've been dealing a lot lately with
metaphysical propositions and tenets, and
I can assure you that the greatest impediment to expressing them logically is
that all reasoning is relational.
Both Morality and Ethics are rational systems founded on relational values. If
morality were absolute
(indigenous to the universe), there could be no such thing as individual
freedom.
Ron:
Even if individual freedom IS morality? True reasoning is relational but what
relations make all the
difference in the understanding of the term in context.
Ham:
I won't comment on your suggestion that a former Federal Reserve Chairman was
motivated by
"hedonism sans moral integrity" in his efforts to keep the economy working,
because such a
slanderous charge only reveals your bias against capitalism.
Ron:
My comment was toward Rand, whom Greenspan was/is a devotee, in Greenspans
testamony he
cited that he had misplaced trust in the CEO that they would
act in the best intrests of the share holders . He was wrong. I have nothing
against capitalism, but
I as you, dislike the idea of the monoply of power and wealth
due to the exploitation and bias of a system for individual profit, unethical
advancement like this
is seen as evil in communism yet defended as the individuals
freedom to keep what one has earned, ethical or not. I ask, what makes one
system evil and the other o.k.?
Ham:
However, you are right that the values on which man acts are his free choice,
and intellectual
ability is not "equally distributed". Nonetheless, I would submit that such
choices determine
the course of history, and man (individually and collectively) has the
potential to achieve the
moral system that his value-sensibility drives him to accomplish. Freedom is a
double-edged sword.
That's what is so challenging about an amoral universe. We can be misguided by
ideologies and
doctrines that lead to disastrous consequences (i.e., the "unpropitious"
application of rational value).
That's why a fundamental belief system that resists indoctrination to
manipulative agendas imposed
by power-seekers is an important part of our reasoning.
Ron:
And this is the subject of MUCH debate, good point, we must delve into this
further..
Ham:
But we can also be enlightened by moral precepts that lead to salutary
results. When we do so,
our "moral integrity" serves as an example for others who will see our behavior
as a reasonable
model to emulate. Thus, the incremental progress of mankind can be understood
as the process
of balancing individual values against universal reasoning.
Ron:
Agree, great conclusion, when I have some time, I'd like to take this up in
depth.
Thanks Ham!
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