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Subject: Questions

Author:
Finding the answers

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Date Posted: 09:01:17 06/20/01 Wed
In reply to: An Atheist 's message, "The Case for Free Will" on 22:08:30 06/07/01 Thu

Really great post! Well laid out, and a quality argument.

I have a couple of questions though. Actually, I have tons, but I will limit it to a few for now. In this Moral Effort model, it is possible to exert moral effort. (Pretty obvious I guess.) But, is it possible to therefor exert Amoral Effort? We would need a clear definition of what constitutes moral to derive a clear example, but it opens up some interesting tangents. For one, I think the way you said it, a moral action still needed outward provocation. One could not "morally sit," but in a course of action, Moral Effort could be displayed. This might not be true for Amoral Effort. Right now, I could probably go out and do something amoral. Does this mean by not doing anything amoral right now as I am sitting, I am indeed "morally sitting"? If there is ubiquitious opportunity to be amoral, would not you always fall into one category or the other?

I can't help myself. I have to ask more. What about degrees of morality? As you have it here, it seems like by principle, morality is a binary consideration. Either you choose to act morally or you don't. (Even if it were as I laid it out with morality and amorality, it would be binary.) But, are there levels of moral effort? I need an example. Let us say for the sake of argument that it is moral to help people in danger. Person A is in danger of freezing to death in the cold. Person B give person A some clothing when they see A, but then leaves. Had person C been there, they would have brought person A out of the cold to their house. Do either person B or C have the option to act in either moral fashion? Or do the specifics of Moral Effort lie on the causality side of things.

Ok, I am getting muddled, so I will stop. Thanks for the post.

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Replies:

Subject	Author	Date
Great Questions :)	An Atheist	13:44:28 06/21/01 Thu
Why thank you -- Finding the answers, 21:39:30 06/22/01 Fri You've Got the Idea -- An Atheist, 17:49:30 06/25/01 Mon