Hacker Newsnew | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submitlogin

What isn't a cultural artifact, outside of nature?


The problem is that people treat and teach ethics as though they are absolute. Further, ethics as a field of study is unique because it is supposed to directly influence behavior. What no one seems to realize is that ethics lessons are a form of social conditioning with administrators deciding on the content.

Here's a quick illustrative example: what do you think passed for ethical to the average citizen at the height of Nazi Germany? Or Cold War era Soviet Union? To CCP members during the great leap forward? Supporters of Dutuerte? Liberals vs Conservatives in the U.S.?

So which brand is your University picking and choosing to offer in class? The whole idea is dangerous - colleges should not be in the business of teaching ethics, because in order to do so they must decide on what is ethical.




Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: