Pages

Saturday, November 04, 2006

Value

Value is subjective. This statement is true of all values - no exceptions. There is no absolute value, no absolute ethics, nothing that will give you the answer in all situations. Every action has risks, and you make your judgment. You choose what you think will increase what is of value to you or minimize its decrease, and act. Sometimes you win, and sometimes you lose.

Of course, many will cry that this statement supports "situational ethics." No kidding! How many times have you seen movies or read books that propose "moral dilemmas?" Were you always happy with the outcome? Did you feel uneasy? Did you wonder what you would do - what was "ethical?" If you might save a person you loved, would it be permissable to torture someone? How about if it would save ten people? A thousand?

There are some interesting answers to these questions - not answers about "right" and "wrong" but about costs and benefits. Answers that the market can help us with and which will be discussed in future posts.

3 comments:

C said...

Am I the first person commenting on/about this blog?

I share many of your views, it seems. I subscribe to Chomsky and Bakunin. But I do favour government regulation when it comes to the economy. I have little faith in free markets, I oppose Free Trade as it exists currently. I do believe in complete personal liberty.

I'm what you would call a Radical Liberal. I think Libertarianism is a bit too unrealistic in certain areas, although I admire the ideals. I don't have much in faith in us to govern ourselves well all the time.

Just a few things about my political views, in brief.

Cheers.

Ken said...

Hmm...you say you believe in complete presonal liberty, but how does that happen if I can't control the fruits of may labor? A regulated economy means someone other than me is making choices about wealth I created.

You say you don't have much faith in us to govern ourselves, but you must believe somehow we can pick people that can?

So, some how elected (or perhaps not elected) government officials are endowed with super human abilities, as they will be managing not only their own wealth but everyones. And they will not be corruptable as those evil business people...??

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.