Ethics: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 18:28, 21 June 2023

The Ethics of metaculture is based on Utilitarianism, but with some evidence-based solutions to the various problems of utilitarianism that have been raised by critics.

The reason for Utilitarianism is that it is the only ethical system that is potentially subject to scientific inquiry, as long as good can be quantified objectively. Since evolution has correlated what is good for humans with what gives us happiness, if we can measure the happiness of a population we can tell if what we are doing is good, at least relative to other societies we've been able to study.

What Are The Rules?

Saying that people should practice utilitarian ethics is easy. Doing the necessary research to determine the best course of action personally as well as in politics and economics is hard. Fortunately there have been many brilliant people throughout history who have worked on this and we can summarize their research into something easy and practical that can be applied in your daily life.

Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

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 The reason for [[Utilitarianism]] is that it is the only ethical system that is potentially subject to [[scientific]] inquiry, as long as ''good'' can be quantified objectively. Since [[evolution]] has correlated what is ''good'' for humans with what gives us [[happiness]], if we can measure the [[happiness]] of a population we can tell if what we are doing is ''good'', at least relative to other societies we've been able to study.
-== You Can't Measure Happiness ==
-A common objection is to dismiss the idea that [[happiness]] can be measured. But there are [https://positivepsychology.com/measure-happiness-tests-surveys/ a number of ways to measure happiness] and while they may not perfectly capture the state of mind of any individual, they do give good aggregate results that say whether a large population is able to achieve satisfaction in life.
-Therefore, an ethical [[utilitarian]] society would seek to constantly increase the measured aggregate [[happiness]] in its people.
-== Oppressing a Minority To Make The Majority Happy ==
-The other most common objection to [[utilitarianism]] is the notion that in some imagined scenario, killing, enslaving, or otherwise depriving one person or group of their [[happiness]] would somehow result in a greater level of [[happiness]] for the rest. In this case the math simply doesn't work out, mostly due to the fact that oppressing others doesn't actually lead to [[happiness]] due to fundamental aspects of human [[psychology]] and [[empathy]]. Oppressive and [[authoritarian]] societies are never as happy as free and [[egalitarian]] ones.
 == What Are The Rules? ==