Rational Ethics: Introduction, Part 2

[GStolyarovII]

Excellent points -- particularly in regard to the fact that eudaimonia cannot be expected to be an uninterrupted, eternal state. Many people make the mistake of treating every difficulty and setback as an indication of fundamental unhappiness and an insufficiently fulfilling life. Recognizing negative emotions as inevitable in many cases can lead one to lead a much more fulfilling life on net.

[wonderist]

I can't get the mediafire link to work. It just redirects to their home page, with no indication that the document even exists or that there was an error in the url or anything. Please tell me I don't have to have an account there to download your essay.

[wonderist]

So far, excellent presentation. Concise, well thought out, and clear. Great work.

[Ramiiam]

I'm enjoying this video series so far. Just as matter of psycology, I think you might be wrong in linking emotions necessarily to values. Have you ever struck your head, let's say on the sharp corner of a cabinet door or something? Besides pain, you feel a momentary flash of almost blinding anger. You might try to link that anger to some value that you hold, but I believe the explanation would be artificial.

[Agnotio]

@Ramiiam: I think the way to see it is that the anger you have is related to a threat to your survival, and obviously you value your own survival.

[Ramiiam]

Maybe. But I would guess there is some hard-wired connection between the pain receptors in our brains and the parts that produce emotion. Maybe someone better versed in contemporary brain science than I am will chime in.

[Ramiiam]

Just as an example, while walking my dog this evening I stepped on her foot by accident. She yelped and wheeled around with a growl, baring her fangs.  Then in an instant, she thought better of it, put back her ears, wagged her tail, I patted her and we were friends again. (She's okay).

Our emotions may be more complex than that of a dog, but I think there is more in common than we sometimes like to think.

[DoublePlusSam]

You-day-moan-ia

[wonderist]

I prefer "You da Man"-ia. That's the obvious fact that everybody wants the same thing: People to say "You da Man!" to them.

[fede2]

nice. really well thought out.

[MaikUniversum]

wonderful :)