A study of ethicists finds they’re no more ethical than the rest of us • Hacker News Board

Re: A study of ethicists finds they’re no more ethical than the rest of us

#61

Post by duado » Sun, Mar 31, 2019, 5:53 AM UTC

burfog wrote: post #33

Missed the prime example: Eric Clanton He taught ethics at a couple colleges in California. He evidently thought that it would be ethical, in his properly educated professional opinion, to attempt to murder people with different political views. Over multiple days and locations, he bashed a half dozen people in the head with a heavy metal bicycle lock. https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/may/26/eric-clanto...

It’s a misconception that the only good political actions are nonviolent. Many great political actions have had a large violent component, including those written down in the history books as nonviolent, such as the Indian independence movement, the American Civil Rights movement, and the South African anti apartheid movement.

Re: A study of ethicists finds they’re no more ethical than the rest of us

#62

Post by Nasrudith » Sun, Mar 31, 2019, 10:17 AM UTC

loco5niner wrote: post #25

droithomme wrote: post #2

Thanks. There was a thread on HN yesterday about the benefits of a college education. There was a subthread arguing that without going to a formal college process of study of topics such as ethics and philosophy, a person could not hope to become a moral person, and therefore, the implication goes, college is not only necessary but fundamental to a moral society, and also obviously graduates are more moral and ethica…

In truth, the educated are more likely to be self-deceived (as well as being deceived by the system).

That isn't that meaningful without the overall rate of deception for all parties. If nobody else can deceive you who is left to deceive you but yourself?

It would be like dealing with people immune to all diseases and aging and noting that they tend to die more often from violence - of course they would it is the only thing left to kill them! It doesn't imply that they are more violent.

Re: A study of ethicists finds they’re no more ethical than the rest of us

#63

Post by effie » Sun, Mar 31, 2019, 11:38 AM UTC

apocalypstyx wrote: post #16

Contemporary ethicists tendency to employ the terms ethics and morality interchangeably may be the most unethical and immoral act of the profession in general.

Could you elaborate? What do you think the difference is?

Re: A study of ethicists finds they’re no more ethical than the rest of us

#64

Post by aitchnyu » Sun, Mar 31, 2019, 4:33 PM UTC

jorgesborges wrote: post #13

Morality isn't supposed to be an intellectual edifice from which experts expound rational arguments. It's a living practice. It's unsurprising to me that the people who devote their lives to making useful distinctions between words, or cooking up situations with babies and trains, aren't as moral as we might think. There's a reason Jesus was more influential than Socrates.

Cato the Elder was very pleased when a philosopher gave a moving speech in favour of an ethical life. He was later shocked when he listened to another speech where he argued the opposite. He used his power as Censor to exile him.

Source: The Daily Stoic, a witty book with anecdotes.

Re: A study of ethicists finds they’re no more ethical than the rest of us

#65

Post by burfog » Tue, Apr 02, 2019, 3:53 AM UTC

jeffdavis wrote: post #50

grandmczeb wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It was seven people[1] over multiple separate incidents during protests at Berkeley. The most famous video of one of the assaults is this one[2]. [1] https://www.berkeleyside.com/2018/08/08/eric-clanton-takes-3... [2] https://youtu.be/9qKCl9NL1Cg

Curious why that resulted in misdemeanor probation rather than felony with prison time.

His violent actions are aligned with the prevailing politics in that area. He is thus protected. The politics also go against a meritocracy, and this is extended even to the court system. The merits of the case were less important, while the values espoused were more important.

IMHO this is corrupt and is a path toward being 3rd-world country.