It's not a religious position: it's an ethical and moral position.
Now, my morals and my ethics are influenced by my religion and my philosophy. But one MUST consider morals and ethics in considering one's actions -- on an individual level and on a societal level. One must have things that create and support one's morals and ethics -- and religion is one of those things.
There's nothing wrong with having a religous position that says that torture is wrong. It seems that, if we have no ability to say that things are wrong, then we also have no ability to say that other things are right. Without morals, without ethics, there is no reason to do much. Without morals, without ethics, there's no reason to care what happens to anyone else. If you are not working from a moral and ethical basis, what do you care whether people are being tortured, and, for that matter, whether it's particularly effective? The odds that you will be personally affected by terrorism are vanishingly small.
If you're not taking a moral position on these matters, what possible position are you taking? Why do you care?
Utilitarianism is a . . . simplistic philosophy. I don't like it. Doing the most expedient thing at all times seems like a barren way to live.
Nonetheless, in this case, the utilitarian position and the moral position are in conjunction.
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zvi and
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Date: 2006-10-27 03:58 pm (UTC)Now, my morals and my ethics are influenced by my religion and my philosophy. But one MUST consider morals and ethics in considering one's actions -- on an individual level and on a societal level. One must have things that create and support one's morals and ethics -- and religion is one of those things.
There's nothing wrong with having a religous position that says that torture is wrong. It seems that, if we have no ability to say that things are wrong, then we also have no ability to say that other things are right. Without morals, without ethics, there is no reason to do much. Without morals, without ethics, there's no reason to care what happens to anyone else. If you are not working from a moral and ethical basis, what do you care whether people are being tortured, and, for that matter, whether it's particularly effective? The odds that you will be personally affected by terrorism are vanishingly small.
If you're not taking a moral position on these matters, what possible position are you taking? Why do you care?
Utilitarianism is a . . . simplistic philosophy. I don't like it. Doing the most expedient thing at all times seems like a barren way to live.
Nonetheless, in this case, the utilitarian position and the moral position are in conjunction.