by LuisP » Sun Mar 29, 2015 9:47 am
Indeed it is, Wags. Very apposite. But faulty, from where I see this “episode”, for it falls short.
Because, as with everything concerning Immanuel, it leaves room for a “black and white only” judgment, and that is one of the main reasons why I do not subscribe to his propositions, or rather, his deontology, the other main reason being his “theory of duty” simply derived, or existing, as a singular creation of Human Reason, meaning, as if this “condition” were, so to speak, a “gift of nature” inconsequential in itself and, therefore, devoid of a pre-existing, and universal, set of rules “felt”, or understood, by Man everywhere in the globe and among its diversified peoples.
Something which, as evidence abundantly proves, does exist. And on top of that, “grey” also does exist between “white and black”.
So, to me, strictly Kantian approaches are always reductive for in the end, he would have us all turn into “Mr.Spocks”. And Man is much more than that. And that is why, from my perspective, I give FB the benefit of doubt because I’ve (we all have !) seen him struggle with himself on some previous occasions where he also did Wrong and came to realize it, and tried to amend, meaning, he not only is not just “black and white” as he also possesses his own innate “theory of duty” .
That said, I also always saw – and see - Utilitarianism in FB. But not enough to find him, so to speak, despicable as the theory in itself and its practical followers are, but just a bit enough to see that yes, he looks for advantages in the “choices” he makes and doesn’t make them without such considerations. I’ve reasoned this “character fault” as having derived, and built upon, economic necessity (something which FB also mentions frequently as suffering from ) and not from a deficient personality. Which is something I’m sure FB knows perfectly well, and should therefore, I'd like to think, resist to engage in.
This “episode” does not compute, however, with this mild appraisal and to me it showed another, darker, intent.
And that is why I found it so disturbing and truly hope FB takes time to look inside himself, and take weight. For he is, I found, a good man with whom we all shared a bit of ourselves.
Then again, just my way of seeing this.
Don't be too harsh, Wags.