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Answer some of these questions, I can't force you to keep to the topic, but do me a favor and atleast try to answer 1 of them or more if you can, before responding to somone else. [especially since bashing ideas is 1 thing, contributing better ones is another]

1) Do you agree with the statement that all humans are created equal and why? [Yes or no and why]

2) What is your conscious reasoning for doing acts of altruism?

3) Do you beleive Altruism is or can be a subconscious act? if it is, what makes it treated as so 'venerable' in our society? Can you make a case for why it should still be venerable in our society even if you feel that it is or can be subconscious?

4) Would you do something beneficial to yourself and consequently harmful to somone else if you knew that you wouldn't get caught or punished for it?

5) Would you kill a murderer if you felt doing so would save more lives? [Spur of the moment descision, a now or never sort of thing]

At 5/22/08 11:16 PM, SmilezRoyale wrote: Answer some of these questions, I can't force you to keep to the topic, but do me a favor and atleast try to answer 1 of them or more if you can, before responding to somone else. [especially since bashing ideas is 1 thing, contributing better ones is another]

1) Do you agree with the statement that all humans are created equal and why? [Yes or no and why]

Define equal. If you mean that all humans have certain rights that should be inalienable, then yes. If
you mean that all people are generally, more or less equal in the area of abilities, then no, as it is farily obvious, that some people just have the advantage over others, the real question is how much of an advantage they have, and how many.

I would go into more detail, but I would like to know in what way you are defining "equal" before I make a fool of myself.

2) What is your conscious reasoning for doing acts of altruism?

Altruism isn't technically possible, but that is for a philosophy discussion... Anyway, I help people on occassion as it directly benifits me. At least that is my reasoning tutoring people in the math course at the university that I've completed. I figure the more I use the material, the greater my ability to use it easily.

3) Do you beleive Altruism is or can be a subconscious act? if it is, what makes it treated as so 'venerable' in our society? Can you make a case for why it should still be venerable in our society even if you feel that it is or can be subconscious?

I believe any act could be construed as a subconscious act, especially if you were to take the Freudian stance on the mind, so yes, I believe altruism is a subconscious act. As to why it is treated as 'venerable' within society, I would have to guess that a majority of people don't like the idea that society in general is fueled by greed, and so charitible acts that seem to go against the norm help to alleviate their guilt.

As to arguing that it should still be 'venerable' despite being subconcious, it serves a purpose, just not what most people would recognize, so I see no issue with it.

4) Would you do something beneficial to yourself and consequently harmful to somone else if you knew that you wouldn't get caught or punished for it?

This is a tough question, as you have no way of proving that the answer you give, is the answer you believe. Regardless, IF I knew I wouldn't be caught, and IF I knew that no ill would come to me for doing such an act, I would probably go ahead and harm the person.

5) Would you kill a murderer if you felt doing so would save more lives? [Spur of the moment descision, a now or never sort of thing]

Yes, I would have no issues killing a murderer, thus becoming one myself, if I knew that the person in question was without a doubt one.

I need to a picture of a painting I once saw, it depicted a holy knight covered in blood from a demon that he had slain, and at the bottom, on the plate there, it said something along the lines of good becoming evil for good reason. Really I just want the qoute, so if anyone knows what I'm talking about, please give me the quote.

At 5/22/08 11:16 PM, SmilezRoyale wrote: 1) Do you agree with the statement that all humans are created equal and why? [Yes or no and why]

Yes, all people should be treated equaly

2) What is your conscious reasoning for doing acts of altruism?

Helping others is one of the greatess things you can do.

3) Do you beleive Altruism is or can be a subconscious act?

Probably varies from person to person.

if it is, what makes it treated as so 'venerable' in our society?

Yes

Can you make a case for why it should still be venerable in our society even if you feel that it is or can be subconscious?

Find cures to illness, such as RFL finding a cure for cancer.

4) Would you do something beneficial to yourself and consequently harmful to somone else if you knew that you wouldn't get caught or punished for it?

No

5) Would you kill a murderer if you felt doing so would save more lives? [Spur of the moment descision, a now or never sort of thing]

Yes, but only if someone was in trouble at the moment, if not, I would take them alive.

At 5/22/08 11:16 PM, SmilezRoyale wrote:
1) Do you agree with the statement that all humans are created equal and why? [Yes or no and why]

Yes, we're all born as clean slates. It's the life we lead after that that affects the balence

2) What is your conscious reasoning for doing acts of altruism?

To stop pain

3) Do you beleive Altruism is or can be a subconscious act? if it is, what makes it treated as so 'venerable' in our society? Can you make a case for why it should still be venerable in our society even if you feel that it is or can be subconscious?

Yes it can be. It should still be venerable because if doing good just coems naturally to someone it's definatly admirable.

4) Would you do something beneficial to yourself and consequently harmful to somone else if you knew that you wouldn't get caught or punished for it?

There's always consequence if you get caught by others or not. So i won't make that mistake again

5) Would you kill a murderer if you felt doing so would save more lives? [Spur of the moment descision, a now or never sort of thing]

Yes. Violence is just a tool and like any other it matters how you use it. The murderer uses it to victemize the innocent and I would be using it to defend further innocents. My reasons would be completly different so I wouldn't count myself as like him.

At 5/22/08 11:16 PM, SmilezRoyale wrote: Answer some of these questions, I can't force you to keep to the topic, but do me a favor and atleast try to answer 1 of them or more if you can, before responding to somone else. [especially since bashing ideas is 1 thing, contributing better ones is another]

Eh, sure, why not?

1) Do you agree with the statement that all humans are created equal and why? [Yes or no and why]

I don't think anyone is inherently better then anyone else, but some people are blessed with intelligence, looks, potential, and opportunities.

2) What is your conscious reasoning for doing acts of altruism?

Protecting someone I care about, doing something nice for someone because it makes me feel good and I don't mind helping people.

3) Do you beleive Altruism is or can be a subconscious act? if it is, what makes it treated as so 'venerable' in our society? Can you make a case for why it should still be venerable in our society even if you feel that it is or can be subconscious?

It can be. No idea why it's treated as venerable. I don't think I could.

4) Would you do something beneficial to yourself and consequently harmful to somone else if you knew that you wouldn't get caught or punished for it?

Depends on what it was.

5) Would you kill a murderer if you felt doing so would save more lives? [Spur of the moment descision, a now or never sort of thing]

Probably.

At 5/22/08 11:16 PM, SmilezRoyale wrote:

1) Do you agree with the statement that all humans are created equal and why? [Yes or no and why]

Yes. That means that by virtue of being human you have the same rights as any other human. You are free and no one has right to any part of you.

2) What is your conscious reasoning for doing acts of altruism?

None. As long as you have a concept of your own identity, you can not do any truly altruistic act.

3) Do you beleive Altruism is or can be a subconscious act? if it is, what makes it treated as so 'venerable' in our society? Can you make a case for why it should still be venerable in our society even if you feel that it is or can be subconscious?

see bove.

4) Would you do something beneficial to yourself and consequently harmful to somone else if you knew that you wouldn't get caught or punished for it?

It depends. If I thought the price of gold was about to tank, I would engage in a mutually agreed act and sell my gold to someone, thus if I'm right, doing him great harm.
However I woul not outright steal money from someone even if I'm sure I won't get caught

5) Would you kill a murderer if you felt doing so would save more lives? [Spur of the moment descision, a now or never sort of thing]

Not felt, if I knew for certain that he had killed, and he had hig probability of killing in the future, then yes, in a heartbeat.

I'm pretty sure you're just lifting this off of a school assignment because the formatting smacks of the educational system. Talk about irony. At any rate.

At 5/22/08 11:16 PM, SmilezRoyale wrote: 1) Do you agree with the statement that all humans are created equal and why? [Yes or no and why]

Of course not. What we have in America is equality of opportunity. Everyone should get a relatively equal shot at success, but the simple fact that we have had people like Nikolai Tesla and Albert Einstein on the same planet as people with Down's Syndrome is a testament to the fact that people are simply not born equal.

2) What is your conscious reasoning for doing acts of altruism?

Because I feel obligated to do my part for humankind. As a member of society, I'm part of something larger than myself and, in order to keep it running smoothly, I have to participate. That amounts to me looking out for the benefit of the whole even though it is sometimes not to my benefit.

3) Do you beleive Altruism is or can be a subconscious act? if it is, what makes it treated as so 'venerable' in our society? Can you make a case for why it should still be venerable in our society even if you feel that it is or can be subconscious?

Absolutely. The follow-up questions are misguided. The venerability of altruism has nothing to do with whether or not it's a subconscious act, only whether or not altruism can be considered self-serving, in some roundabout fashion. That's not what the first question asks, however, and follow-up questions should always seek to expound on the first question.

Also, the fact that "venerable" is in quotations is a further point that whoever wrote your assignment is trying to act smarter than they are to bring attention to a word they think is impressive. There's no grammatical justification for it to be in quotes.

4) Would you do something beneficial to yourself and consequently harmful to somone else if you knew that you wouldn't get caught or punished for it?

This is a ridiculously vague question. Everyone has done this and will continue to do this on some level. The question could mean anything from cutting in line to murder or worse.

5) Would you kill a murderer if you felt doing so would save more lives? [Spur of the moment descision, a now or never sort of thing]

If I felt like it would save more lives? I'd have to be more sure than that. The question lacks any sort of context you would have when making such a decision. If we're talking about someone who's a known sociopath, then yes, there is very strong evidence that this person would kill again. If it's some guy who killed a guy for sleeping with his wife in a moment of passion? Of course not, I wouldn't make the decision to kill this guy in the off chance he kills more people down the line in an unrelated incident. There's no evidence to support it. It's unethical to make the decision to take a life with no more evidence than a good feeling that it will save more lives.

At 5/22/08 11:16 PM, SmilezRoyale wrote:

1) Do you agree with the statement that all humans are created equal and why? [Yes or no and why]

No. There are qualities that appeal to everyone universally that some people have less of than others. For instance: having a micropenis and an IQ of 75 clearly starts you off on the wrong foot. Also hard to argue that point when some babies are born to live in a fucking bubble or with like weird blobs of goo all over the place.
Just google "lizard baby" and I think you'll convince anyone that I'm right on this.

2) What is your conscious reasoning for doing acts of altruism?

"1. the principle or practice of unselfish concern for or devotion to the welfare of others"

There is no such thing. Hence this is a false question.

3) Do you beleive Altruism is or can be a subconscious act? if it is, what makes it treated as so 'venerable' in our society? Can you make a case for why it should still be venerable in our society even if you feel that it is or can be subconscious?

People love it when they think that someone will bail them out of trouble. It inspires people when they see a person give to the less fortunate because if we feel empathy with the poor. We feel "shit, I wouldn't want to be those poor bastards, so thank God someone is helping them other than me, because I have to jerk off to Angelina Jolie's sweet tits right now before I got to sleep so I don't come to work late at the dildo factory again".
Same with Bill Gates giving like billions of dollars away. What the fuck was he going to do with that money? Maybe something intelligent like build a lobby or an empire, but that takes a lot of work to plan out. No, he didn't need the money so he just gave it away ( or will give it away ). Yeah if I had 12381293812 bajillion dollars, I could give 12381293811 bajillion dollars away and still live in a giant mansion with lots of naked babes. Big deal.
People love that shit because they figure "wow I thought he was a dick for having more money than me, but now that he's plainly giving money to people, how can he be an asshole?"

4) Would you do something beneficial to yourself and consequently harmful to somone else if you knew that you wouldn't get caught or punished for it?

Depends. Probably not unless I really would benefit a LOT in comparison with the suffering I would impose. It's too late for me to be that big of an asshole, if I had someone tortured just for money or whatever, it would haunt me.
But I'd have every last one of you killed on the spot to live one extra day on earth if I was on my deathbed.

5) Would you kill a murderer if you felt doing so would save more lives? [Spur of the moment descision, a now or never sort of thing]

I probably couldn't bring myself to do it. But hey if I did manage to start doing it, I would be doing it endlessly for smaller and smaller reasons. I'm so crazy I probably wouldn't even fight back if someone was trying to kill me for fear of getting in trouble later. Not that I don't think I should, I just couldn't for some reason.

1) Do you agree with the statement that all humans are created equal and why?

- No. In my understanding of the word equal, it is unrealistic that we are all one single plane.

2) What is your conscious reasoning for doing acts of altruism?

- A person needs help and I am capable

3) Do you beleive Altruism is or can be a subconscious act? if it is, what makes it treated as so 'venerable' in our society? Can you make a case for why it should still be venerable in our society even if you feel that it is or can be subconscious?

- The altruistic behavior is not inherent, but may become like a subconscious tendency. The high regard given to the "selfless" is not necessarily as prominent as you may think, however. Obviously there are situations where circumstances provide that kind of social recompense but the essence altruism is a (small) selfless gesture done with (little) post reinforcement.

As far as should it be held in high regard, absolutely. Any behavior that transcends personal needs to help another person is deserving of praise.

4) Would you do something beneficial to yourself and consequently harmful to someone else if you knew that you wouldn't get caught or punished for it?

- No. I can get whatever i want by my own two hands and i am patient enough to do it with sweaty hard work.

5) Would you kill a murderer if you felt doing so would save more lives?

- A killer like Dr. Kevorkian or some abortion clinic doctor -vs- a child molester serial killer is a wide margin of the definition. I would like to say no i would not, under any circumstance kill someone as that should not be my role in society to judge and castigate death to anybody. But given the right circumstances i could see that being appropriate and maybe even likely.

At 5/22/08 11:16 PM, SmilezRoyale wrote: Answer some of these questions, I can't force you to keep to the topic, but do me a favor and atleast try to answer 1 of them or more if you can, before responding to somone else. [especially since bashing ideas is 1 thing, contributing better ones is another]

1) Do you agree with the statement that all humans are created equal and why? [Yes or no and why]

Depends on what you mean by equal. Equal in rights and value? Equal in abilities?

For rights, then yes, we have a system where all humans are given equal rights. Things can modify them (such as being thrown in prison takes away your freedom), but at the start, we are all granted those rights.

As for abilities, absolutely not. Not even close.

2) What is your conscious reasoning for doing acts of altruism?

I don't think true altruism is possible. Even when you do help somebody else so much that it hurts you, it was still your choice, and you wouldn't have done it if you didn't want to. The problem is that many people think of a "you have that and I have this" situation, when in fact many people might take value in what other people hold. For example, a mother might be more happy if her son becomes successful than if she becomes successful. This means that she has placed that area of value in her son instead of herself.

3) Do you beleive Altruism is or can be a subconscious act? if it is, what makes it treated as so 'venerable' in our society? Can you make a case for why it should still be venerable in our society even if you feel that it is or can be subconscious?

Not quite sure.

4) Would you do something beneficial to yourself and consequently harmful to somone else if you knew that you wouldn't get caught or punished for it?

I do that every day. If you look at the total amount of resources on the planet, there is no way that people can live as well as we do here in the West while maintain balance. If we redistributed all goods, then we wouldn't be sitting on front of computers on the internet. These extra benefits (even if fairly earned) comes at the cost of somebody elses food and life.

5) Would you kill a murderer if you felt doing so would save more lives? [Spur of the moment descision, a now or never sort of thing]

Yes

At 5/22/08 11:16 PM, SmilezRoyale wrote: Answer some of these questions, I can't force you to keep to the topic, but do me a favor and atleast try to answer 1 of them or more if you can, before responding to somone else. [especially since bashing ideas is 1 thing, contributing better ones is another]

1) Do you agree with the statement that all humans are created equal and why? [Yes or no and why]

We're equal in that when we are born there is no logical or rational reason that we shouldn;t all have the same oppurtunities as everyone else. We ar enot equal in regards to what skills and abilities we have been blessed with or can develop.

2) What is your conscious reasoning for doing acts of altruism?

It makes me feel good, though technically that means it isn;t altriustic at all as I'm doing it for a ' feel good high'.

3) Do you beleive Altruism is or can be a subconscious act? if it is, what makes it treated as so 'venerable' in our society? Can you make a case for why it should still be venerable in our society even if you feel that it is or can be subconscious?

As altruism doesn't exist I'd say that it can't be concious or subconscious.

4) Would you do something beneficial to yourself and consequently harmful to somone else if you knew that you wouldn't get caught or punished for it?

No. I've got to many morals and the like ( Ie, I'm an opinionated bastard) and find hypocrisy REALLY distasteful so I really do work on the guidelines of ' Do unto others as you would have them to unto you'.

5) Would you kill a murderer if you felt doing so would save more lives? [Spur of the moment descision, a now or never sort of thing]

No. Rationally speaking I know ( or believe) that it's the right thing to do, but quite hoenstly I jsut wouldn't have the stomach to actually kill someone. Only way I'd be able to do it is if it was MY life on the line and the only way to save my lfie would be to kill the murderer. Even then I'd go all Lady Macbeth trying to get the blood off of my hands and end up in years worth of counselling.

At 5/22/08 11:16 PM, SmilezRoyale wrote: 1) Do you agree with the statement that all humans are created equal and why? [Yes or no and why]

Yes. I also believe that some of us are more equal than others, not so much in the George Orwellian way. More along the lines that people have different strengths & weaknesses, that in itself classify's a person.

2) What is your conscious reasoning for doing acts of altruism?

;
I don't believe in the doing of good just for the sake of it.
I also don't believe doing ill to anyone . I was raised 'family comes first' all other considerations come after that. So while I can & do go out of my way for family & friends , my concern for others outside that is of little or no consequence .

3) Do you beleive Altruism is or can be a subconscious act? if it is, what makes it treated as so 'venerable' in our society? Can you make a case for why it should still be venerable in our society even if you feel that it is or can be subconscious?

;
I don't believe it is self conscious...it is a conscious act.

4) Would you do something beneficial to yourself and consequently harmful to somone else if you knew that you wouldn't get caught or punished for it?

;
Depending on the circumstances, I would probably do it ,even if I knew I would be caught &/or punished.

5) Would you kill a murderer if you felt doing so would save more lives? [Spur of the moment descision, a now or never sort of thing]

; I don't follow this?
Do you mean to go a convicted murderer & just kill him (or her).
Or do you mean to observe someone kill somebody & then you kill the murderer?
You see the difference.
I know that if a member of my family had been killed I wouldn't hesitate... if it were just someone l didn't know, I'm not sure I would 'get involved'

At 5/22/08 11:16 PM, SmilezRoyale wrote: 1) Do you agree with the statement that all humans are created equal and why? [Yes or no and why]

No. Some are born with crippling genetic disorders that really do prevent them from operating on the same level as the rest of us. Sad, but true.

2) What is your conscious reasoning for doing acts of altruism?

Virtue is its own reward. Gives me the warm fuzzies.

3) Do you beleive Altruism is or can be a subconscious act? if it is, what makes it treated as so 'venerable' in our society? Can you make a case for why it should still be venerable in our society even if you feel that it is or can be subconscious?

The combination of subconscious yet also appreciated is easily explained by the idea of a social contract. We all work together to live in a better world and appreciate it. As a mild example, although throwing garbage on the ground is convenient, and it would eventually be cleaned up, the majority of us choose not to litter because we don't want to have to walk through trash all the time.

4) Would you do something beneficial to yourself and consequently harmful to somone else if you knew that you wouldn't get caught or punished for it?

That depends on the ratio. If it was on the order of I get a million dollars, the other person loses a cookie, sure I'd do it. If it was even, no I wouldn't, because that's essentially theft. Note that the idea of "even" must include the consideration of marginal utility in this case.

5) Would you kill a murderer if you felt doing so would save more lives? [Spur of the moment descision, a now or never sort of thing]

A complicated question. It's hard to say how it would go if I just "felt" it would save more lives as opposed to having some evidence.

At 5/22/08 11:16 PM, SmilezRoyale wrote: 1) Do you agree with the statement that all humans are created equal and why? [Yes or no and why]

Physically, no. There are cripples and retards. If you mean rights, no, as some people should not have the right to have kids.

2) What is your conscious reasoning for doing acts of altruism?

To make myself feel better because I'm so much greater than the person I'm helping? Which is not really altruistic because I'm doing it for a selfish reason.

3) Do you beleive Altruism is or can be a subconscious act? if it is, what makes it treated as so 'venerable' in our society? Can you make a case for why it should still be venerable in our society even if you feel that it is or can be subconscious?

Well, I think that people do anything nice because it makes them feel better about themselves. People seem to value it because some expect help when they are in a bad situation.

4) Would you do something beneficial to yourself and consequently harmful to somone else if you knew that you wouldn't get caught or punished for it?

Yes.

5) Would you kill a murderer if you felt doing so would save more lives? [Spur of the moment descision, a now or never sort of thing]

Only If he's a threat to me. If he's trying to kill someone, that's not my problem.

This is not a school assignment, i COULD answer the questions i put here much quicker than it would take me to make a thread and find a really good response. [None of these responses are essay quality, no offense]

i would have been done by now.

By the way, i am sorry to preface. When i meant equal... i'll rewrite the question

1a) Do you beleive all people are equal in the sense that they are entitled to a certain number of inalienable rights, and should be treated equal under the law? Please prpvide a non ethical or ethics based reason for why this is so.

Another question, an addon to number 1

1b) If, hypothetically, all people are entitled to certain inalienable rights under the law, if this principal is all yielding and universal, why is it subject to change. How can it be a universal truth that all people are entitled to certain schizophrenics rights.

1a) Do you beleive all people are equal in the sense that they are entitled to a certain number of inalienable rights, and should be treated equal under the law? Please prpvide a non ethical or ethics based reason for why this is so.

Still no. inalienable is the key term. Nothing in life is in stone and given without stipulation or parameters. Unfortunately this principle is exclusive to a percentage of people making their life seemingly less in worth. Obviously this is disheartening and not my idea (in some cases) of fair but it is the truth in the human condition.

1b) If, hypothetically, all people are entitled to certain inalienable rights under the law, if this principal is all yielding and universal, why is it subject to change. How can it be a universal truth that all people are entitled to certain rights.

entitlement is a word rarely found in law for a reason. no right is without a waiver or a loophole. and this is in America the shining light of a successful judiciary.

At 5/22/08 11:16 PM, SmilezRoyale wrote: 1) Do you agree with the statement that all humans are created equal and why? [Yes or no and why]

Equal in worth. Equal in deserving love and empathy.

2) What is your conscious reasoning for doing acts of altruism?

Conscious? None. Whenever I do good things, I do them because it makes me feel decent. If I didn't open a door to a guy using a crutch, I'd feel like a horrible dick. It's pure instinct.

I could probably try to think of clever reasons to do it as well, like how the society is so much better for everyone if we all behave nicely and selflessly, but these thoughts would never occur to me while I'm helping the guy with a crutch. I'm just glad that in this case, my instincts don't conflict with what is reasonable behaviour in a civilized society.

3) Do you beleive Altruism is or can be a subconscious act? if it is, what makes it treated as so 'venerable' in our society? Can you make a case for why it should still be venerable in our society even if you feel that it is or can be subconscious?

I believe that what we call altruism is an evolved trait, something we do instinctively, and always more or less subconsciously. I would think that if you do it purely consciously, simply as a result of cold and calculative thinking, under the impression that sucking up to people will get you to places, it would be less venerable than natural, instinctive altruism. Which is weird, because instinctive altruism evolved for the very reason that it benefits the individual performing the seemingly altruistic tasks (as a rule of thumb, not 100% systematically).

4) Would you do something beneficial to yourself and consequently harmful to somone else if you knew that you wouldn't get caught or punished for it?

Depends on the amount of benefit received and harm caused, but if it's something tiny, I would probably do it. I would probably feel bad about it afterwards, though. It's weird, but it feels like the greater the benefit, the worse I think I would feel about it.

By the way, I think that having a "guilty conscience" is a sub-conscious warning that "someone might be watching" or "you might get caught". Every time you do something you shouldn't be doing, this instinctive warning is triggered, even when your conscious self is 100% sure there is absolutely no way you could ever get caught.

And when you finally do get caught, the momentary, elating relief disappears in an instant, and the feeling of guilty conscience comes back stronger than ever, as if to say "See? I tried to warn you but you didn't listen!"

5) Would you kill a murderer if you felt doing so would save more lives? [Spur of the moment descision, a now or never sort of thing]

Probably not. Firstly, I'm not sure I'd ever be able to kill someone. But more importantly, as selfish as it sounds, I doubt I would be prepared to go to jail for it. If that guy is going to kill people, he's the one who has to take responsibility for it.

At 5/23/08 08:41 AM, SmilezRoyale wrote: This is not a school assignment, i COULD answer the questions i put here much quicker than it would take me to make a thread and find a really good response. [None of these responses are essay quality, no offense]

I wasn't trying to say you were getting us to do your assignment for you. I make it a point to not even respond to threads where I think that's the intent. Rather, I was making a comment about how it really looks like those are prefab essay questions, given the wording. The irony comment was just a little facetious. :P

1a) Do you beleive all people are equal in the sense that they are entitled to a certain number of inalienable rights, and should be treated equal under the law? Please prpvide a non ethical or ethics based reason for why this is so.

Sure, everyone should be treated equally under the law. That's the only way you can avoid abuses in such an extensive system. The law of the land after the "separate but equal" debacle is that anytime you assign different groups different sets of rights, it will be abused by the majority. The reason we have the bill of rights isn't to protect the rights of the majority, but to make sure the majority doesn't disenfranchise the minority. Time and time again, we've seen that if there is something that can be abused, it will.

1b) If, hypothetically, all people are entitled to certain inalienable rights under the law, if this principal is all yielding and universal, why is it subject to change. How can it be a universal truth that all people are entitled to certain schizophrenics rights.

There are certain rights that aren't subject to change. Morality is a sliding scale with certain things being more important for the ethical fabric of society. The right to free speech, for instance is an inalienable right. I would say that any right that is subject to change couldn't really be considered inalienable, by definition.

At 5/23/08 08:41 AM, SmilezRoyale wrote: This is not a school assignment, i COULD answer the questions i put here much quicker than it would take me to make a thread and find a really good response. [None of these responses are essay quality, no offense]

As a side note, I think professors are really masochistic to ask such stupid and broadly interpretable questions and demand you waste 500 words answering them.
Reading that stupid bullshit would make anyone crazy.

Being a philosophy professor must be the most pointless and unsatisfying job in existence.

At 5/22/08 11:16 PM, SmilezRoyale wrote: 1) Do you agree with the statement that all humans are created equal and why? [Yes or no and why]

No. They just aren't, neither physically or mentally.

2) What is your conscious reasoning for doing acts of altruism?

Altruism is rarely genuine; most perform acts of it for themselves.

3) Do you beleive Altruism is or can be a subconscious act? if it is, what makes it treated as so 'venerable' in our society? Can you make a case for why it should still be venerable in our society even if you feel that it is or can be subconscious?

It's probably both. I wouldn't assume it has to be one or the other.

4) Would you do something beneficial to yourself and consequently harmful to somone else if you knew that you wouldn't get caught or punished for it?

No.

5) Would you kill a murderer if you felt doing so would save more lives? [Spur of the moment descision, a now or never sort of thing]

I have thought about it, and I decided long ago that I would kill anyone if they were wrongfully endangering the people around me.

At 5/22/08 11:16 PM, SmilezRoyale wrote: Answer some of these questions, I can't force you to keep to the topic, but do me a favor and atleast try to answer 1 of them or more if you can, before responding to somone else. [especially since bashing ideas is 1 thing, contributing better ones is another]

1) Do you agree with the statement that all humans are created equal and why? [Yes or no and why]

Impossible to answer. Equality, in terms of one object not being less than or greater than another object, is only a meaningful operation on numbers. To decide if two people are equal, you have to effectively reduce them to numbers - which is a subjective process.

Nevertheless, if we mean equal in the sense of "Equal ability", than obviously not. Some people clearly are more able than others.

If equal means, equal in value, than also obviously not. If all people were given equal value there would be no drive to go to years of schooling to become a doctor or a lawyer or a leader. There's simply a social necessity to base one's status in society on that person's motivation and accomplishment.

2) What is your conscious reasoning for doing acts of altruism?

Humans are heuristic machines - i.e., we do things for pleasure and happiness. Of course, that doesn't mean that altruism doesn't occur. If seeing someone cry makes me sad, and I choose to help them in light of that, technically I am acting to make myself happier, but I'm also not really benefiting from it.

3) Do you beleive Altruism is or can be a subconscious act? if it is, what makes it treated as so 'venerable' in our society? Can you make a case for why it should still be venerable in our society even if you feel that it is or can be subconscious?

I think most people understand that they get visceral pleasure for aiding others. But that doesn't detract from the altruism IMO.

4) Would you do something beneficial to yourself and consequently harmful to somone else if you knew that you wouldn't get caught or punished for it?

It depends. Humans don't just work together because of punishment. A person could have a nautral drive to work with others.

5) Would you kill a murderer if you felt doing so would save more lives? [Spur of the moment descision, a now or never sort of thing]

I'm unsure. I'd probably talk to them or at most contact the police and provide evidence that they're demented.

At 5/22/08 11:16 PM, SmilezRoyale wrote: Answer some of these questions, I can't force you to keep to the topic, but do me a favor and atleast try to answer 1 of them or more if you can, before responding to somone else. [especially since bashing ideas is 1 thing, contributing better ones is another]

1) Do you agree with the statement that all humans are created equal and why? [Yes or no and why]

from birth yes, however i do not believe in unalienable rights. i believe that doing things such as committing crimes you should be able to lose your rights to anything and everything is the crime is bad enough.

2) What is your conscious reasoning for doing acts of altruism?

acts of altruism have always been a split second thing for me, so there is no real reasoning behind it. Some people are simply chivalrous by nature.

3) Do you beleive Altruism is or can be a subconscious act? if it is, what makes it treated as so 'venerable' in our society? Can you make a case for why it should still be venerable in our society even if you feel that it is or can be subconscious?

depends on the person. some people are predisposed to helping others, some are not, and some will only help someone in order to benefit from it later. whether or not is it venerable... meh, depends. giving money to some bum sitting on the side of the road who refuses to work is just silly, however, helping someone that got laid off and is actively hunting a new job is a great thing.

4) Would you do something beneficial to yourself and consequently harmful to somone else if you knew that you wouldn't get caught or punished for it?

naah, my conscience would eat me alive.

5) Would you kill a murderer if you felt doing so would save more lives? [Spur of the moment descision, a now or never sort of thing]

depends. if someone is going around murdering people, i would have no qualms in killing someone if i knew for a fact they were murdering people and killing the person would prevent more murders.

At 5/22/08 11:16 PM, SmilezRoyale wrote: Answer some of these questions, I can't force you to keep to the topic, but do me a favor and atleast try to answer 1 of them or more if you can, before responding to somone else. [especially since bashing ideas is 1 thing, contributing better ones is another]

1) Do you agree with the statement that all humans are created equal and why? [Yes or no and why]

No. People are born with different inherent abilities. However, since it is (at this point) impossible to determine the extent of a particular person's abilities at a glance, it is best to treat a person as equal until they prove themselves otherwise.

2) What is your conscious reasoning for doing acts of altruism?

I do not preform altruistic acts. Every action I take I perceive as having some benefit to myself, regardless of its benefit to others.

3) Do you beleive Altruism is or can be a subconscious act? if it is, what makes it treated as so 'venerable' in our society? Can you make a case for why it should still be venerable in our society even if you feel that it is or can be subconscious?

Certainly altruism can be subconscious, and in my opinion it often is. It is rare to find someone who thinks through their motivations for each of their actions before acting.

4) Would you do something beneficial to yourself and consequently harmful to somone else if you knew that you wouldn't get caught or punished for it?

Yes.

5) Would you kill a murderer if you felt doing so would save more lives? [Spur of the moment descision, a now or never sort of thing]

It would really depend on the situation, but I would certainly be capable of it. Whether I would or I would not would entirely depend on the particulars.

At 5/22/08 11:16 PM, SmilezRoyale wrote:

1) Do you agree with the statement that all humans are created equal and why? [Yes or no and why]

No. And that isn't an ethics question. It's a genetics issue. Should all humans be considered equal legally? Sure.

2) What is your conscious reasoning for doing acts of altruism?

Altruism is evil. I can proove it.

3) Do you beleive Altruism is or can be a subconscious act? if it is, what makes it treated as so 'venerable' in our society? Can you make a case for why it should still be venerable in our society even if you feel that it is or can be subconscious?

Evil.

4) Would you do something beneficial to yourself and consequently harmful to somone else if you knew that you wouldn't get caught or punished for it?

No. Nothing I do wrong goes unpunished in my own mind.

5) Would you kill a murderer if you felt doing so would save more lives? [Spur of the moment descision, a now or never sort of thing]

Only as a last resort.

At 5/22/08 11:16 PM, SmilezRoyale wrote: 1) Do you agree with the statement that all humans are created equal and why? [Yes or no and why]

I echo Commander's question.

2) What is your conscious reasoning for doing acts of altruism?

I echo staff's answer.

3) Do you beleive Altruism is or can be a subconscious act? if it is, what makes it treated as so 'venerable' in our society? Can you make a case for why it should still be venerable in our society even if you feel that it is or can be subconscious?

Yes. The desire to stop pain in others is a necessary drive. If we did not feel that way, then we would quite quickly destroy ourselves.

4) Would you do something beneficial to yourself and consequently harmful to somone else if you knew that you wouldn't get caught or punished for it?

It would depend on the degree of benefit/harm. Great benefit, little harm, absolutely... not so much vice-versa.

5) Would you kill a murderer if you felt doing so would save more lives? [Spur of the moment descision, a now or never sort of thing]

Yup.

At 5/23/08 08:41 AM, SmilezRoyale wrote: 1a) Do you beleive all people are equal in the sense that they are entitled to a certain number of inalienable rights, and should be treated equal under the law? Please prpvide a non ethical or ethics based reason for why this is so.

Ah, my clarification... answer:

Abso-fucking-lutely. Use the Hobbsian veil of ignorance: If you didn't know which way the inequality would fall upon you... would you go for equal or non-equal? It is most beneficial for a species and a people to have an equal set of rights granted across the board.

1b) If, hypothetically, all people are entitled to certain inalienable rights under the law, if this principal is all yielding and universal, why is it subject to change. How can it be a universal truth that all people are entitled to certain schizophrenics rights.

...I don't understand your question. Why would a set of inalienable rights be malleable at all?

At 5/24/08 05:25 AM, Ravariel wrote:

1b) If, hypothetically, all people are entitled to certain inalienable rights under the law, if this principal is all yielding and universal, why is it subject to change. How can it be a universal truth that all people are entitled to certain schizophrenics rights.

...I don't understand your question. Why would a set of inalienable rights be malleable at all?

How has the kinds of rights that man has been entitled to over the past 3 centuries changed?

For a start.

At 5/23/08 08:41 AM, SmilezRoyale wrote: 1a) Do you beleive all people are equal in the sense that they are entitled to a certain number of inalienable rights, and should be treated equal under the law? Please prpvide a non ethical or ethics based reason for why this is so.

;
This isn't true in this area...there is definate proof for the way the average citizen is treated under the law, compared to a political figure &/or more importantly how police are dealt with under the law.
There is & has been preferencial treatment give to these people. Just this week a Halifax Police officer was found semi-conscious in a car (his own, not a police vehicle) he was loaded drunk. He had a blood alcohol content of .124 & .130 , the legal limit here is .08 . He has been given a conditional discharge by the court. Anyone convicted of drinking & driving gets a criminal record here. He also was previously convicted of drinking & driving in 2003, befor he became a policeman & that is on his record.
It doesn't become anymore blatent than that. Has he been fired from his job ? ? ? ? NO he has been given a "Leave of Absence with PAY....WTF , If l get caught drinking & driving I'll get a minimum 1 year loss of license, a fine of a thousand dollars , alcohol treatment & take a alcohol abuse course. The average person is screwed when caught. Last year a Politician was convicted of hit & run drunk driving... he had to step down from the government, but that was it... considered punished enough.
There is a 2 tier system in Canada... its not officail, but it is still the case in practice !

Another question, an addon to number 1

1b) If, hypothetically, all people are entitled to certain inalienable rights under the law, if this principal is all yielding and universal, why is it subject to change. How can it be a universal truth that all people are entitled to certain schizophrenics rights.

;
It isn't universal (who told you it was?)
Many people have no rights at all, none... look at Burma (myanmar)& the disaster has killed thousands, the deliberate refusal by the government for allowing outside help has killed thousands more. You can't begin to convice me we as people on this planet have any inalienable rights what so ever.
We are all of us subject to the golden rule (The Golden Rule ; Those with the gold make the rules)this rule basicly means those who have the money have the power to enforce their ideals on everyone around them. Look at the middle east, Africa... rights, the only rights there are by force.
Look here in our countries, the Police Forces & the Governments Armed Forces are used by Governments to enforce their (the Governments ) will on the people. has nothing to do with any rights.
Your rights anywhere are what you are told they are... & can be taken away in a case by case basis or unmass if the ruling Political body says so.
And there is F all we can do about it.

At 5/22/08 11:16 PM, SmilezRoyale wrote:
1) Do you agree with the statement that all humans are created equal and why? [Yes or no and why]

They are born equal and hopefully have the same chances. I can not anwser yes or no to this since I don't know what equal is for human beings. Is it intelligence, strength, or creativity? Is it power? Is it wealth?

2) What is your conscious reasoning for doing acts of altruism?

Mostly because I'm bored and want to make a point. Sometimes I have an alterior motive but mostly because I have nothing better to do and it may help me later on.

3) Do you beleive Altruism is or can be a subconscious act? if it is, what makes it treated as so 'venerable' in our society? Can you make a case for why it should still be venerable in our society even if you feel that it is or can be subconscious?

True altruism is so rare today, I have not seen a single case of it. The reasoning behind what we consider altruism, however, can be subconscious.

4) Would you do something beneficial to yourself and consequently harmful to somone else if you knew that you wouldn't get caught or punished for it?

It completely depends on every single variable imaginable so there is no real difinitive anwser to this question.

5) Would you kill a murderer if you felt doing so would save more lives? [Spur of the moment descision, a now or never sort of thing]

Once again, it depends on the situation and all the variables that are possible in that desicion.

1) No, I think we are not equal, each one is different from the rest, Humans [as a specie] need specialization to stay alive.

2) None, I try to not be altruist. No one must have more or less that he or she won by its acts.

3) Yes, it can be subconscious, and our society would not venerate that act.

4) NO.

5) NO.

At 5/24/08 09:25 AM, SmilezRoyale wrote: How has the kinds of rights that man has been entitled to over the past 3 centuries changed?

See, now we run into the crux of the problem: What is the difference between an "inalienable" right and one given by the state/community/social group?

i.e. what rights should we have vs what rights we're given by the rulers of the time. Certainly the second has changed greatly over the years. However, the right to life has, and always will, be an inalienable right. Remember also, that your right to live only reaches as far as my face. Take my right to life and you effectively give up your own.

The rights of liberty and pursuit of happiness are definitely ones I believe should be inalienable, but have at many times been ones restricted by the state/etc. Those we have down in the constitution are nice, but not inalienable.