ethics

An Introduction to Philosophy (RLL style) Week 14 – Society 2 (Power) – Part 3: Did Dahmer deserve death?

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When a crime is monstrous, something deep inside us demands that justice be served. Retributive justice says the punishment should fit the crime, and for many, the death penalty feels like the only fitting response. But what happens when we cross that line? When we grant the state the authority to take life? Justice, after all, is not just about punishment—it’s about distribution. Who gets to decide? The same system that punishes often distributes suffering unevenly. The death penalty and incarceration disproportionately affect the poor and disenfranchised. This isn’t an accident. It’s a feature of who has power. As we reflect on justice, we must ask: Do we trust the deciders? Do we trust the system to get it right every time, especially when the stakes are irreversible?

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An Introduction to Philosophy (RLL style) Week 12 – Ethics 2 (Objectivism) – Part 4: Where do gut feelings come from?

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Ethical objectivism isn’t just about external rules; it’s also about listening to our gut feelings—those moments when something feels right or wrong, even if no one else has told us. Our intuition acts as an internal moral barometer, guiding us toward ethical truths that may be hardwired into us. Whether it’s the guilt we feel when we cross a line or the peace we find when we act with integrity, these gut reactions may point to universal truths that transcend culture and time.

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An Introduction to Philosophy (RLL style) Week 12 – Ethics 2 (Objectivism) – Part 3: What makes the golden rule golden?

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In our exploration of ethical objectivism, we start with the timeless wisdom of the Golden Rule: treat others the way you’d want to be treated. This universal principle has appeared across time, cultures, and societies, proving that some ethical ideas are constant. At its core, it reminds us that kindness, respect, and fairness are values we all understand similarly. Whether cultures differ or norms shift, the Golden Rule remains a powerful starting point for ethical decisions and builds the foundation of ethical objectivism.

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An Introduction to Philosophy (RLL style) Week 11 – Ethics 1 (Relativism) – Part 1: Introduction – Why be good?

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Why be good? Before diving into rules and commandments, we need to ask: Why bother? Morality isn’t just about rules—it’s about how to live well. Socrates asked not, “What rules should we follow?” but “What kind of life is worth living?” Ethics, for the ancients, wasn’t about being perfect—it was about flourishing, about becoming the kind of person who functions well in the world. Living ethically isn’t about cosmic points—it’s about the kind of person you become when you repeatedly choose kindness, integrity, fairness, and care. The real reason to care about ethics isn’t abstract; it’s because we matter. The way we treat others shapes the world we wake up in, and the way we live shapes who we become.

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Why Are We More Afraid of Love Than Violence?

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A letter asking why we fear intimacy more than violence – and what our AI guidelines reveal about our deepest insecurities around love, vulnerability, and connection.

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