"To end the despotism of such an individual would likely be in regard to his “well being."
It is well known and need not be argued that the apprehension of criminals and their punishment (whether incarceration or execution) is to protect the well being of the social group as they strive for peaceful coexistence in a framework of law and order. It is not primarily to realize a concern that the perpetrator have "well-being"--"the state of being happy, healthy, or prosperous".
"We occasionally evaluate our experience afterward and surmise that we were mistaken, that we erred in regard to what was in our own best interests. This gives credence to the idea that an ultimate “self interest” may lie beyond our subjective experience."
I don't know how the first entails the second? Fallibility is a given; and discovery of errors is a natural ability common to many creatures. How you take fallibility as an indicator of an "absolute moral principle" is beyond me. I see two premises: 1). Humans are fallible, and 2). Humans sometimes discover their errors in assessment or judgment. What I do not see is how these two premises entail your conclusion.
Additionally, self interest refers to the interest of a limited person from the perspective of an entity which is separate and identifiable as a unique individual. To speak of an "ultimate self interest" beyond the subjective is to contradict the very definition of self interest as "a concern for one's own advantage and well-being" (there we have that word, "well being" again, as well). A concern for ones own advantage or well being demonstrates a clear bias and is obviously subjective. Asserting that it is not will not further your argument.
"The position I hold is absolute moral principle is there to be detected and internalized"
But if it is not a human invention then it exists whether humans exist or not. In the ideas of what creature could these principles dwell? Is the universe full of ideas apart from thinking creatures?
Principles are codified ideas. Ideas are expressions of mental activity or thought. Ideas may be communicated orally, or through the written word, and in a more subtle sense through art, music, and such. Since no mortal human could possibly form an Absolute idea...what sort of creature do you envision as incubating these Absolute ideas?
Let me use an analogy: Do you believe that all the thousands of different languages used and invented by humans were already existent but merely discovered by humans? Language is merely one form of expression of thoughts and ideas including ideas about decency and propriety. Do you know of any other method to communicate a moral principle than through language? I consider the proposition that language was not invented by humans to be incredible, but I find it no different in likelihood than I do the proposition that some opinions exist in the universe regardless of whether any thinking creatures exist. Because, I take it there is no objection to my inference that IF certain ideas are simply "discovered" by humans and do not have their genesis in human minds, then they have their genesis in the mind of something else? I take it we are still on the same page as regarding moral principles as opinions--whether we consider the opinions as Divine and infallible...or as human and fallible? |
