Altruism
Jun 29, 2008Are people genuinely altruistic, or is altruism just a type of selfish-behavior? Are other animals altruistic?
In a recentinterview,彼得·辛格说:“哲学总是会引起反感——也许它应该引起反感。”Both the former and latter parts of this platitude feel suspect and not entirely necessary—after all, you probably wouldn't be offended by Russell and Whitehead'sPrincipia Mathematicalike you might be toward some of Singer's arguably outrageous views on euthanasia or disability.
Nevertheless, the interview has been praised in theDaily Nous, which calls Singer an "excellent public philosopher." In the interview, Singer expresses his frustration over his critics' protests of his speaking events, and insists that hewouldlisten and improveif onlyhis critics were to actually pose arguments. But such a reflective adjustment of his own positions, or at least a thoughtful response to serious critics, appears to be nowhere in sight since one of his latest controversies.
In a high-profile case of sexual assault committed by Anna Stubblefield, a Rutgers Professor of Philosophy, on a student referred to as DJ, with severe cerebral palsy,Singer and Jeff McMahan came to Stubblefield's defenseand saw her as the "actual victim" in this case for being punished so severely (she was sentenced to 12 years in prison, thoughthe conviction was later overturned upon appealand Stubblefield now faces a new trial). Although they use a variety of arguments, they claimed that because D.J. could not likely understand the idea consent, "it seems that if Stubblefield wronged or harmed him, it must have been in a way that he is incapable of understanding and that affected his experience only pleasurably."
A series of extended critiques have been made toward this logic, yet Singer has not yet responded. For example, on theFeminist Philosopher, the argument has been made that "Why ever should we think that one must have the cognitive capacity to conceptualize precisely how one has been harmed in order to have been so harmed? Are small children not even possibly victims of sexual assault? Can animals not be unjustly exploited? Are persons with severe brain damage incapable of being victims of theft?"
Whatever one might think about the merits of Singer's arguments, crowning him as "an excellent public philosopher" or as someone whose work we should "appreciate...perhaps especially if...we disagree with him," seems a bit off in light of his recent inability to engageresponsiblywith his public.
See the interview here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Al4i4oQT8Ng
Are people genuinely altruistic, or is altruism just a type of selfish-behavior? Are other animals altruistic?
Can morality be quantified? Can the good be calculated? Utilitarianism says the right action is the one which leads to the ...
从亚里士多德和康德到休谟和达尔文,哲学家和科学家长期以来一直否认动物能够出于道德原因而行动。
我们都同意帮助别人是伟大的,是一件值得做的事。但是花太多的时间去帮助别人——太多的时间,太多的re……
Are people genuinely altruistic, or is altruism just a type of selfish-behavior? Are other animals altruistic?
Can morality be quantified? Can the good be calculated? Utilitarianism says the right action is the one which leads to the ...
从亚里士多德和康德到休谟和达尔文,哲学家和科学家长期以来一直否认动物能够出于道德原因而行动。
我们都同意帮助别人是伟大的,是一件值得做的事。但是花太多的时间去帮助别人——太多的时间,太多的re……