Originally posted by seer
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If we take the paradigm of "survival" as the purpose and meaning of being "human" then such a narrative can promote a zero-sum world-view---my survival is more important than your survival....Even if such an outlook/paradigm managed to promote altruisim so that survival of the human species as a whole becomes "reasonably" important---it may still not be enough---as it would fail to consider the other species and the environment (---all of God's creations).
Consider also the concept of duty, responsibility, obligation....if the purpose of these values (duty) is based on self-interest alone (survival), the weight of this value is shallow---but it can have more weight if it is based on some concept such as the greater good for the greater number (Utilitarianism). However, when ethical values become a numbers game---it loses its value as ethics.
What is the purpose/goal of an ethical system? to promote survival?, or the greatest good for the greatest number?, or to do God's will?, or to define good/bad? or to build communities? The set-up of an ethical system will depend on what purpose it is being used for. This purpose depends on what is the narrative for the existence of human-being/humanity....do we exist solely for individual survival, community survival, and/or species survival?...or do our narratives give us more meaning and purpose for our existence?
Our lived experience is complex and encompasses many areas from our interactions with our governments and civic institutions to commercial activities and economics, to social norms, customs, traditions, to our multiple identities and various other institutions/systems....a narrative/paradigm that can promote altruism in all areas of human activity and thought is beneficial....
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