Morals are determined to a significant degree by those with the most power. This holds right down to our instinctive moral circuitry. If you want to be ‘morally right’ in war win. The moral philosophers will then compete to create arguments in favour of whatever actions you happened to choose. Phrases like ‘pre-emptive strike’ and ‘liberation’ will be used.
The language of morality is handy to immerse ourselves in while we are signalling and shaming each other to get our way. But if you want to really think about the way things could be consider what I want, what you want and our ability to make it happen.
Morals are determined to a significant degree by those with the most power. This holds right down to our instinctive moral circuitry. If you want to be ‘morally right’ in war win. The moral philosophers will then compete to create arguments in favour of whatever actions you happened to choose. Phrases like ‘pre-emptive strike’ and ‘liberation’ will be used.
The language of morality is handy to immerse ourselves in while we are signalling and shaming each other to get our way. But if you want to really think about the way things could be consider what I want, what you want and our ability to make it happen.
History is, indeed, usually written by the winners.