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Politics : Sharks in the Septic Tank -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: one_less who wrote (58579)	9/18/2002 10:16:55 AM
From: Neocon	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 82486

We are always seeking the best result, that is clear. One standard conflict is when the best result for us involves harming someone, or trashing some value, outside of us. The supposition is that the dilemma is real, that is, one will either take the hit, or lay off the burden on others. The attempt is to resolve upon the overall best course of action, which is not always necessarily the strictly moral one, insofar as it is possible for there to be justification under certain circumstances. In fact, it is normal to put off action in search of a rational resolution. However, we cannot always get one, certainly not in a timely manner, nor is it necessarily trustworthy, insofar as we yearn. Thus, at some point, we might have to choose purely as an act of will, either embracing the moral position and hoping that the personal cost will not be as great as anticipated, or pursuing personal satisfaction, and hoping to find mitigation or justification eventually, to reduce or eliminate the dilemma. Now, it is evident that we do not make meaningful choices in all morally implicated instances, but that does not mean that we are merely subject to programming. It is assumed that the series of choices that we make in life forms our character, and therefore that we are to some extent responsible for becoming mean, or slutty, or dishonest, or whatever. Obviously, some people have more to overcome in the formation of character, insofar as their parents were bad, or they were influenced by a bad social environment. But that does not entirely let them off the hook.....