My position, which I keep finding myself arguing here, is that this isn’t even a meaningful question. Rationality applies to beliefs not terminal values. I doesn’t even make sense to wonder if there is a Bayesian way to decide what to care about.
We sometimes speak of rational reasons for priorities or non-terminal values but what we really mean is that we have rational reasons to believe that fulfilling that priority or non-terminal value fulfills our terminal value. A non-terminal normative claim is a mixed is/ought claim and the word rational is describing the ‘is’ part, not the ‘ought’ part.
I agree with Jack’s comment on this, but must also state: morality as a proximal value is actually rather effective in achieving most terminal values. Winning friends has a tendency to aid with almost anything else you might wish to do; and behaving morally has a tendency to aid in winning friends, and avoiding the acquisition of enemies.
There are of course some exceptions though- behaving ruthlessly and amorally probably helps in gaining promotions, dealing with buisness rivals etc (I don’t have any actual experience, just guessing from what I know of it and asking for comment from those with experience in those areas).
Is there any actual rational reason for a person to be moral at all, or indeed to have any other priority?
My position, which I keep finding myself arguing here, is that this isn’t even a meaningful question. Rationality applies to beliefs not terminal values. I doesn’t even make sense to wonder if there is a Bayesian way to decide what to care about.
We sometimes speak of rational reasons for priorities or non-terminal values but what we really mean is that we have rational reasons to believe that fulfilling that priority or non-terminal value fulfills our terminal value. A non-terminal normative claim is a mixed is/ought claim and the word rational is describing the ‘is’ part, not the ‘ought’ part.
I agree with Jack’s comment on this, but must also state: morality as a proximal value is actually rather effective in achieving most terminal values. Winning friends has a tendency to aid with almost anything else you might wish to do; and behaving morally has a tendency to aid in winning friends, and avoiding the acquisition of enemies.
There are of course some exceptions though- behaving ruthlessly and amorally probably helps in gaining promotions, dealing with buisness rivals etc (I don’t have any actual experience, just guessing from what I know of it and asking for comment from those with experience in those areas).