Altruism and Absolute Morality

[chezlaw]

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Also I don't see how it follows from 'it is wrong to do something to someone' to 'people have a right not to have that done to them'.


[/ QUOTE ] This is backwards from what I'm trying to say, People have a right not to have this done to them, thus it it wrong to do that.

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That seems like a good basis for constructing legal frameworks but it doesn't follow that no rights mean no AM as there could be other reasons why something is wrong.



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Not even 'merely'. Morality is (imo) a part of self-interest. The question is which part and what is its nature?

[/ QUOTE ] I'm beggining to think that all of morality is rational self-interest. Do you think that there is any situation where someone is being ethical without any regard to his/her own interest?

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No I don't. Where I disagree with some others is the idea that morality is some sort of rational juggling of self-interest. Morality is an intrinsic part of self-interest.

chez

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I find a wallet with $1000 in it. I return it to the man who lost it. Am I being moral? What self-interest am I fulfilling?

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I care about the well-being of the man who lost the wallet. I want the man to not suffer.
The man will suffer if he loses his wallet
Therefore I want to return the wallet.
It is in my self-interest to do what I want.
Therefore it is in my self-interest to return the wallet.

(I may or may not care enough to overcome my desire for $1000)

chez