JEB
Socrates: Shall we discuss the word good
how its very subjective and time sensitive
there is no objective good
there isn't even a constant good, it changes with time
think about it, it might be good for u to smoke right now, but u can't just look at the moment
u have to evaluate it over the entire future effect
Cletus Joe Bob Pickins: entire future? as in eternity?
shouldn’t the limit be my lifetime?
Socrates: well that brings in another factor
its your lifetime if u are an individualist
its eternity if u are socialist
Cletus Joe Bob Pickins: where to draw the boundaries? how does a person even make decisions about what to do in that instant
if they cant be sure its "subjectively good"
Socrates: whatever the voice in their head tells them to do is subjectively good
Cletus Joe Bob Pickins: of course its subjective, but if a lot of people share a specific view of good, then it becomes closer to objective
at least communal good
Socrates: no, i'm looking at each person individually
Cletus Joe Bob Pickins: and im a socialist
cause there is a good larger than the individuals definition
Socrates: well that is where u went wrong
to think that there is a larger good is a mistake and a fallacy
and it will only lead to destruction
Cletus Joe Bob Pickins: its only larger in the sense that several people share the same sense of good
the same view of it
Socrates: oh i see what u are saying
yes, people can share the same vision of good
but u can't coerce others into sharing your vision
Cletus Joe Bob Pickins: no, but knowing how others view good changes how you view good
so ur perception of good isnt developing in a vacuum
Socrates: there is a difference between teaching and forcing
Cletus Joe Bob Pickins: yes
does forcing of good occur?
Socrates: yes, taxation for government projects
and religion are two excellent examples
Cletus Joe Bob Pickins: in the case of taxes, are we forcing people to believe its good
or are we just taking their money?
if they don't see the value in the taxes, then its coercion i guess
Socrates: forcing your good on others, whether they believe it or not is wrong
Cletus Joe Bob Pickins: but there are people that like paying taxes
and buy into it
Socrates: most of them "buy into it" because they are coerced and manipulated by the government through education and the media
Cletus Joe Bob Pickins: so would u say people are coerced into thinking murder is bad?
they are taught taxes are good, not coerced
just like they are taught murder is bad
Socrates: yes, some people are
Cletus Joe Bob Pickins: so people can be taught. coerced almost anything
what point are you trying to make with religion and taxes
Socrates: i'm making the point that coercing others to follow your subjective understanding of what’s good is wrong
Cletus Joe Bob Pickins: is it coercion if they decide its the right thing to believe simply because everyone else around them believes it
and there is safety in numbers
Socrates: that is coercion and weakness, good sir
Cletus Joe Bob Pickins: how can I put your principle into action
Socrates: You can make changes through anarchy, civil disobedience, or politics
Cletus Joe Bob Pickins: how do I apply the lessons of your principles?
Socrates: well once you think the way i do, you can apply the lessons yourself
getting u to apply the lessons without fully understanding their basis is just another form of coercion
Furthermore, what I teach is a Science and, “ultimate decisions, the valuations and the choosing of ends, are beyond the scope of any science. Science never tells a man how he should act; it merely shows how a man must act if he wants to attain definite ends.”
THE END
