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Askewnaut's avatar

excellent essay.

insofar as this is a criticism of universalist utilitarianism, it succeeds by pointing out an important and specific flaw. but as an unum necessarium upon which to build a moral system, i think it fails, as does all utilitarianism and all attempts to isolate a value or virtue and elevate it above all others. no longer governed by the balance of other virtues, it quickly becomes a parody of itself. it absolutizes a partial truth. no single virtue is sufficient to guide moral reasoning in every situation. kindness or tolerance without justice leads to all kinds of evil. justice without mercy leads to cruelty. likewise "fitness aligned ethics" logical conclusion would seem to be racial totalitarianism at which point there is nothing stopping the most "fit" defining good and evil as they please.

that said, i am largely in agreement that it is pure insanity to ignore either "fitness" or the natural preference one has for their own kin. i think it is foundational, but i dont think one can use it as THE foundation of an ethical system. to say nothing of the problem with defining "fitness" beyond mere survival. it is easy enough to imagine a very "fit" but morally grotesque society.

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