Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Centered VIRTU3

Doubt reigns in the center of VIRTU3-space. There are many circumstances where there just isn't enough information to make any judgments about a particular behavior. We might not know what someone intended, so it's hard/impossible to make a determination about their morality. We might not know who has what rights based on the full history of interactions, so ethical judgments might be conflicted or uncertain. It might be unclear what the full long-term results of any particular action are, so it can be unclear if the action is creative, destructive or somewhere in between.

The center is, in my opinion, where all of us are born. Each of us may, based on in-born temperament, be more attracted to some part of VIRTU3-space. Temperament aside, most of us are ready and able to learn and follow the particular morals, ethics and expectations of our societies. A free society is one where a wider variety of temperaments can find full expression. A restrictive society is one where little or no accommodation for personal temperament is made.

The Centered VIRTU3 Framework

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Simple VIRTU3

Three independent axes in geometry form 3D-space. Similarly, the three independent domains create a VIRTU3-space. Unlike 3D-space, VIRTU3-space is finite. A self-aware, omniscient being has the capacity to be perfectly moral, ethical and creative. That same self-aware, omniscient being has an equal capacity to be perfectly immoral, unethical and destructive. These two points are opposite corners of the Simple VIRTU3 framework. All of the corners are listed in the table below. Any and every judgement about intentions, actions or results fits into this framework.

Morality Ethics Results Coordinates Color
Moral Ethical Creative (1,1,1) White
Moral Ethical Destructive (1,1,-1) Aqua
Moral Unethical Creative (1,-1,1) Purple
Immoral Ethical Creative (-1,1,1) Yellow
Moral Unethical Destructive (1,-1,-1) Blue
Immoral Ethical Destructive (-1,1,-1) Green
Immoral Unethical Creative (-1,-1,1) Red
Immoral Unethical Destructive (-1,-1,-1) Black

The Simple VIRTU3 Framework

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

The 3 Types of Absolutism

Some people believe that one of the three domains of virtue is the only one that matters.

Moral Absolutism

Those who believe that morality is all that matters are moral absolutists. For a moral absolutist, ethics and consequences are both irrelevant. An action can be judged as wholly good as long as the intentions that led to the behavior are good. Destructive or unethical behavior is justified and wholly excused by good intentions. Moral absolutists totally reject ethical egoism and consequential utilitarianism as having any weight, even as secondary or side constraints.

This figure shows how a moral absolutist orients VIRTU3-space. Any of the four corners on the top are considered good by a moral absolutist. All four corners on the bottom would be viewed as bad.

Moral Absolutism

Ethical Absolutism

Those who believe that ethics is all that matters are ethical absolutists. For an ethical absolutist, morals and consequences are both irrelevant. An action can be judged as wholly good as long as the behavior did not violate the ethical rights of anyone. Immoral or destructive behavior is justified and wholly excused by proper ethics. Ethical absolutists totally reject personal morality and consequential utilitarianism as having any weight, even as secondary or side constraints.

This figure shows how a ethical absolutist orients VIRTU3-space. Any of the four corners on the top are considered right by an ethical absolutist. All four corners on the bottom would be viewed as wrong.

Ethical Absolutism

Consequential Absolutism

Those who believe that results are all that matters are consequential absolutists. For a consequential absolutist, morals and ethics are both irrelevant. An action can be judged as wholly good as long as outcomes are productive. Immoral or unethical behavior is justified and wholly excused by good results. Consequential absolutists totally reject personal morality and ethical egoism as having any weight, even as secondary or side constraints.

This figure shows how a consequential absolutist orients VIRTU3-space. Any of the four corners on the top are considered constructive by a consequential absolutist. All four corners on the bottom would be viewed as destructive.

Consequential Absolutism

Wednesday, January 8, 2014

The 3 Domains of VIRTU3

Human behaviors may be judged from three separate and equally valid domains. These domains are categorically distinct and each must be considered to get a full picture of the virtue/vice of a given behavior.

The Moral Domain

Moral behaviors are motivated by good intentions. The most basic example of moral intentions is wanting yourself and others to find lasting happiness.

Immoral behaviors are motivated by bad intentions. The most basic example of immoral intentions is wanting yourself or others to find existential despair.

Moral judgments precede behavior. They are applicable only to what's going on in the mind of a specific individual. Moral judgments focus on the intentions that lead to human behaviors. They are future-oriented, idealistic judgments.

The Ethical Domain

Ethical behaviors conform to the code of conduct appropriate to mindful selves. The most basic example of ethical action is the act of argumentation. Each participant respects, at a bare minimum, the right of all other participants to agree to disagree.

Unethical behaviors violate the code of conduct appropriate to mindful selves. The most basic example of immoral action is enslavement. One person is willing to use force up to and including summary execution to induce another person to obey.

Ethical judgments are made of behavior as it occurs. They are applicable only to specific actions of specific individuals. Ethical judgments focus on the procedural norms for human behavior. They are present-oriented, rational judgments.

The Consequential Domain

Creative behaviors yield positive results. The most basic example of creative outcomes is expanding the supply of basic necessities (food/water/shelter) for yourself and others.

Destructive behaviors yield negative results. The most basic example of destructive outcomes is wastefully reducing the supply of basic necessities (food/water/shelter) for yourself or others.

Consequential judgments are made of outcomes after the fact. They are applicable to the results of the actions of one or more individuals. Consequential judgments focus on the observed results of human behavior. They are past-oriented, utilitarian judgments.

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

The 3 Questions

How do you know if some behavior is virtuous? Just ask these three questions:
  1. Is it done with good intentions?
  2. Is it done with respect for the rights of everyone involved?
  3. Is it is it likely to yield positive results?
If you can answer yes to all three, then it's virtuous.