Thanks for writing this out. I think you’ll be unsurprised to learn that this substantially matches my own “moral code”, even though I am (if I understand the terminology correctly) a utilitarian.
I’m beginning to suspect that the distinction between these two approaches comes down to differences in background and pre-existing mental concepts. Perhaps it is easier, more natural, or more satisfying for certain people to think in these (to me) very high abstractions. For me, it is easier, more natural, and more satisfying to break down all of those lofty concepts and dynamics again, and again, until I’ve arrived (at least in my head) at the physical evolution of the world into successive states that have ranked value for us.
EDIT: FWIW, you have actually changed my understanding of deontology. Instead of necessarily involving unthinking adherence to rules handed down from on-high/outside, I can now see it as proceeding from more basic moral concepts.
Thanks for writing this out. I think you’ll be unsurprised to learn that this substantially matches my own “moral code”, even though I am (if I understand the terminology correctly) a utilitarian.
I’m beginning to suspect that the distinction between these two approaches comes down to differences in background and pre-existing mental concepts. Perhaps it is easier, more natural, or more satisfying for certain people to think in these (to me) very high abstractions. For me, it is easier, more natural, and more satisfying to break down all of those lofty concepts and dynamics again, and again, until I’ve arrived (at least in my head) at the physical evolution of the world into successive states that have ranked value for us.
EDIT: FWIW, you have actually changed my understanding of deontology. Instead of necessarily involving unthinking adherence to rules handed down from on-high/outside, I can now see it as proceeding from more basic moral concepts.