I think people don't often have good grips on what they actually believe.
[1] This facsimile operated in part by synAC.Anonym:
Consequentialism: The end justifies the means. If I stole from you, it would be all right if I did it for the greater good.
Deontological Ethics: The means justify the end. If stealing is a bad thing, my stealing from you would always be bad.
Virtue Ethics: The person justifies both the means and the end. If I stole from you, it would be all right if I had good intentions.
That said, very few people embrace an absolute version of any of these philosophies.
Except for 4/1/2011. That day lingers in my memory like...metaphor here...I should go.I think the differences between philosophies are sometimes just a matter of perspective.
Subjectivism/objectivism/nihilism when applied to morality, for instance.
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Inspired by my conversations with Lady Beholderess, I put forward something I've noticed.
People don't tend to hold certain philosophies absolutely, and often carry different versions and twists on those present. Essentially, this:
Imagine someone who adheres rigorously to Deontology. However, what if they follow Deontology because they believe that good virtues will automatically lead to a good result? In that case, they are not Deontologist, but actually Consequentialist, right?
Thus I imagine that people's philosophies are actually interconnected in what could possibly be an extremely complex manner.
What thinks thee?
edited 1st Feb '11 12:29:16 AM by TheMightyAnonym
Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! ~ GOD