From: Phillip Huggan (cdnprodigy@yahoo.com)
Date: Sat May 13 2006 - 10:21:59 MDT
Okay but even under your personal definition of a moral nihilist, there is still a morality superstructure. The derivative and the object are merely switched. It is your own personal ends at primacy and other ends merely service as ends to your own. There is nothing wrong with this belief, it is practically brainwashed into most Ivy League Business/Law School graduates.
That doesn't make you a nihilist. A moral nihilist would not value his own mental states.
m.l.vere@durham.ac.uk wrote:
Quoting Phillip Huggan :
> Pleasurable states of mind are preferable than are both the absence of mind
> and mental states of suffering. As you may reflect fondly upon a past memory
> even though by recollecting you do not experience the memory again
> first-hand, you may reflect fondly upon seeing some of yourself in others
> (and recoil in horror at perceived differences). I know (some) other
people .have worth because many of the same values I
> hold are shared in the experiences of others.
This is all derived from self interest and others as a means to your ends as
opposed to their *intrisnic* moral worth. A moral nihilist could have all your
pleasurable states of mind by recognising this (as I do) and suspending his
disbelief most of the time - without cleaving blindly to moralistic dogma.
For the record, I define nihilist as 'one who holds no belief however
widespread, not supported by proof'.
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