Tag Archives: Utilitarianism
Scott Olsen, The “Occupy” Movement and The Protest Dilemma
Why do we still fall for this tactic, and have such sympathy for demonstrators when they push and push until someone is hurt? This is a key part of their strategy, and we should know it by now. Continue reading
Filed under Government & Politics, Law & Law Enforcement, U.S. Society
Scent Branding, Mind-Control, and Ethics
There are lots of ethical issues involved in assessing the practice of scent branding. Analyzing them, however, requires an open mind, at least at the outset. Continue reading
More Than a Fool: Bachmann, John Quincy Adams, and Wikipedia
In one short week since the controversy erupted over Fox News anchor Chris Wallace daring to ask her on the air, “Are you a flake?” and her subsequent botching of both her answer and the question’s fevered aftermath, Rep. Christine Bachmann has stumbled into two flaky episodes. One—her mixing up Western movie star icon John Wayne with serial child killer John Wayne Gacy—was at least funny. The other, far less forgivable—her claim that the Founding Fathers “worked tirelessly until slavery was no more in the United States”—has signature significance. Continue reading
Strauss-Kahn and His Accuser, Victims of The Postman
She is a serial liar; he is a habitual sexual predator. Widespread public knowledge that these things are true may be the most significant consequences to the two principals in this sordid scandal. In the case of at least one of them, it may not be enough, but it is still something. They may be victims, but their own unethical conduct made it possible for them to be victims. Continue reading
The Offensive Battle Over “Seven in Heaven Way”
We can argue about what kind of offense justifies taking a principled stand, but Seven in Heaven Street is so far from being genuinely and reasonable offensive that it doesn’t belong in the discussion. The New York City Atheists are grievance bullies, nothing more, and nothing less Continue reading
Ethics Challenge: Two Mothers, Young Love and Deception
A friend with a teenaged daughter has an ethical problem to solve. Did I give her the right advice? Continue reading
Filed under Daily Life, Family, Gender and Sex, Love
Ethics Hero: Sen. John McCain
The best of Sen John McCain was on display this week as he delivered a strong and eloquent denouncement of torture (a.k.a “enhanced interrogation techniques”) on the Senate floor, in response to the ethically offensive arguments being put forth by many conservatives that the successful elimination of Osama bin Laden somehow magically transformed the evil practice of torture into a respectable tactic of national security. Continue reading
Comment of the Day: “Osama’s Assassination: The Ethics Elephant in the Room”
Commenter Margo Schulter delivers a powerful, passionate, eloquent absolutist rebuttal to my post asserting an ethical defense of Osama bin Laden’s targeted killing/assassination/execution by U.S. military personnel. Continue reading
Comment of the Day: “Two Mothers, Young Love and Deception”
Lianne Best, who writes a weekly newspaper column about the challenges of a working wife and mother, weighs in with the alternative point of view regarding my post about a friend’s handling of her daughter’s boyfriend’s deception. Continue reading →
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Filed under Comment of the Day, Daily Life, Family, Gender and Sex, Love, Romance and Relationships, U.S. Society
Tagged as "The Veil of Ignorance", advice, betrayal, caring, children, consequences, conspiracy, empathy, ethical analysis, ethics, fairness, Golden Rule, John Rawls, justice, lies, non-ethical considerations, parents, respect, teenagers, Utilitarianism