Ethics Under Construction

Ethics Under Construction focuses on exploring the foundations of moral philosophy, the importance of freedom and reason in ethical systems, and the implications of these ideas in social contracts, legal theories, and personal morality. It critiques various political and ethical positions through reasoned arguments and thought experiments.

Moral Philosophy Freedom and Ethics Social Contract Theory Legal Interpretation and Theory Political Philosophy Reason and Skepticism Personal Morality Philosophy of Knowledge Humor and Irony

The hottest Substack posts of Ethics Under Construction

And their main takeaways

Sense, Reference, and "What is a Woman?"

2 HN points • 03 Mar 24
🎭️ Culture Language Gender Biology Debate Semantics
  1. Language is complex and words can have multiple meanings depending on context. Understanding the sense and reference of words is crucial.
  2. The concept of 'woman' can have different meanings based on social or biological contexts. Recognizing these different senses is important for productive discussions.
  3. Biological sex may be irrelevant in many situations, but there are contexts, like athletics, where it remains important. Balancing different senses of 'woman' is key to resolving debates about gender identity.

The Liar Paradox and the Meaning Paradox

5 implied HN points • 15 Jan 24
📖 Philosophy Logic Concepts Thought
  1. Meaning requires conveying a thought beyond just defined words or grammar rules.
  2. Statements that are contradictory and not capable of being true or false are considered meaningless.
  3. Some concepts, like choice and knowledge, have meanings that can be understood in discourse even if they appear inconceivable.

Against Anarcho-Capitalism

15 implied HN points • 26 Mar 23
  1. Anarchy assumes ideal human nature, overlooking the reality of violence and power dynamics.
  2. In an anarcho-capitalist system, legal equality would be absent, favoring the wealthy and powerful over the vulnerable.
  3. Maintaining a power balance in a society without a governing body is challenging and could lead to unjust hierarchies.

The "Reasonable Certainty" Standard for Belief

15 implied HN points • 12 Nov 22
  1. Reasonable certainty is when all available evidence leads to a certain conclusion and remaining doubt can only be resolved with impossible evidence.
  2. Skepticism must be grounded on reason to be justified, and there is a difference between reasonable and unreasonable skepticism.
  3. We have duties to future people since we can be reasonably certain that they will exist based on past evidence of generational procreation.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

Objective Reality and Subjective Experience

15 implied HN points • 06 Nov 22
  1. There are two separate worlds: the objective and the subjective, each with their own characteristics and importance.
  2. Decisions can have objective answers, but personal preferences and meanings reside in the subjective realm.
  3. The objective world is about universally understandable concepts, while the subjective world is personal and creates meaning.

All Comedy is Irony

15 implied HN points • 24 Sep 22
  1. Comedy is about combining reality and ridiculousness to create irony and humor.
  2. Irony is a key element in humor, where similarity and contrast play a role.
  3. Laughter evolved as a part of play, with humor in humans reflecting recognition of irony.

Two Concepts of Freedom

10 implied HN points • 19 Nov 22
  1. Freedom can be divided into two main types: agency freedom and autonomous freedom.
  2. Agency freedom is the feeling of being free and having choices, determining our moral responsibility.
  3. Autonomous freedom is acting in alignment with our higher-order principles, influencing the creation of a social contract based on objective ethical systems.

Freedom vs. Utility

10 implied HN points • 30 Oct 22
  1. Valuing freedom over utility in ethics can lead to more morally grounded choices
  2. Utility is shaped by our freedom and subjective experiences, not inherently good
  3. Comparing utility between individuals is problematic because experiences of pain and pleasure are subjective

What is Knowledge?

2 HN points • 02 Oct 23
📖 Philosophy Knowledge Truth Skepticism
  1. Knowledge is more than just having a justified true belief; it also requires a correct belief in how the justification connects to the truth.
  2. Gettier problems highlight situations where justified beliefs are true only by coincidence, challenging the traditional definition of knowledge.
  3. To have knowledge, there must be a justified true belief, a connector that explains the relationship between the justification and truth, and a belief in that connector.

Is the Constitution Dead or Alive?

5 implied HN points • 10 Dec 22
  1. The Constitution consists of foundational moral principles and formal rules that require different forms of interpretation.
  2. Originalists believe in interpreting the Constitution based on the drafters' original intent, while living constitutionalists argue for interpretation in light of present values and mores.
  3. Interpreting the Constitution requires reason-based analysis to determine the application of foundational principles into concrete legal rules.

Why Freedom is the Foundation of Morality (The Social Contract Part 2)

5 implied HN points • 04 Oct 22
  1. Morality is based on freedom because our subjective experience of freedom is certain and reflects our moral community boundaries.
  2. Freedom is not just the foundation, but also the standard for judging moral systems - morals should align with what we are capable of.
  3. Our moral duties extend only to autonomous beings, those capable of reflective thought and understanding of self.

What is Morality?

3 HN points • 13 Feb 23
📖 Philosophy Ethics Ontology Epistemology
  1. There is no consensus on the definition of morality, with various theories existing but no agreement reached.
  2. Defining ethics is crucial for moral progress, as it forms the foundation for creating an ethical system.
  3. Ethics is grounded in valuing freedom and reason, and moral dilemmas can be resolved by appealing to these principles.

The Utility Coach Thought Experiment

5 implied HN points • 19 Sep 22
  1. Utility is a fundamental aspect of measuring welfare and making decisions.
  2. Values can be exchanged in extreme scenarios to maximize human well-being.
  3. Freedom is a valuable principle that transcends utility and should be respected.

Why Free Will Exists

5 implied HN points • 17 Sep 22
  1. The feeling of free will exists despite physical determinism.
  2. Our sensations interpret and impose meaning onto the world.
  3. Even without physical validation, our conscious experiences shape how we perceive reality.

Why Should I Be Moral?

5 implied HN points • 13 Sep 22
  1. The foundational moral question establishes the value of freedom and reason.
  2. Recognizing the freedom of others is essential in valuing one's own freedom.
  3. Morality is grounded in the equal freedoms of individuals and the social contract.

The Basis for Equality (The Social Contract Part 5)

0 implied HN points • 03 Jan 23
  1. Equality is a complex concept that has been justified in different ways throughout history, but none of these justifications have been fully satisfactory.
  2. Some argue that equality is just a social construct, with no inherent basis in reality or morality, leading to the concept of equality nihilism.
  3. One strong rationale for inherent equality is the concept of equal freedom or agency freedom, where the equal capacity for conscious freedom ensures equality when bargaining in the social contract.

Laws Must be Moral: Reviewing Three Types of Legal Regimes

0 implied HN points • 09 Oct 22
  1. Reasonable law regimes are based on democratic processes and citizens are morally obligated to obey these laws when advocating for reform.
  2. Unreasonable law regimes involve authoritarian or discriminatory governments where civil disobedience is justified to push for justice.
  3. Non-law regimes have no legitimate government-people relationship, making violent actions a necessity for survival under such oppressive systems.

Why is it a Contract? (The Social Contract Part 1)

0 implied HN points • 28 Sep 22
  1. A contract requires offer, acceptance, and consideration (an exchange of value).
  2. The social contract involves offering principles, accepting reasonable justifications, and exchanging freedom for justified principles to establish moral duties.
  3. Consent is not the only reason shaping our duties; social contracts can be formed based on justifiable principles, even without explicit consent.

Yes Peter Singer, Geography is Morally Relevant

0 implied HN points • 22 Sep 22
  1. Our moral duties are limited by proximity - our responsibility ends where the freedom of others begins.
  2. In legal contexts, actual cause and proximate cause help determine liability based on geographical proximity.
  3. Geography is morally relevant in defining our personal sphere of freedom and responsibility.

It Does Not Matter if We Are in a Simulation

0 implied HN points • 06 Oct 22
  1. Meaning and ethics do not depend on external material
  2. Our subjective experience shapes our attitude towards life
  3. Ultimately, creating meaning is our responsibility, regardless of the nature of our reality

Art vs. Propoganda

0 implied HN points • 27 Dec 22
  1. Art is subjective expression and should be appreciated for its honesty and emotional power.
  2. Propaganda is biased information meant to influence opinions, lacking the sincerity of artistic expression.
  3. Political discourse is a form of art, appealing to subjective values and emotions rather than rationality.

Let the Government Buy Your Vote

0 implied HN points • 11 Sep 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Voting Rights Democracy Governance
  1. The concept of 'vote compensation' suggests receiving financial compensation in exchange for abstaining from voting.
  2. Voting comes with costs including information, administration, and error costs that need to be considered to make informed decisions.
  3. The market system can serve as a guide to understand rights, like how corporations use voting and economic rights as options for shareholders.

The Trolley Problem is Not a Moral Dilemma

0 implied HN points • 30 Sep 22
  1. The trolley problem is not a clear ethical dilemma, but rather a personal decision
  2. Ethical analysis only applies when moral principles can judge an act, otherwise, it's a personal choice
  3. When faced with difficult decisions, the responsibility lies with the individual to make a choice based on their authentic self

In Defense of the Veil of Ignorance (The Social Contract Part 3)

0 implied HN points • 14 Oct 22
  1. Morality requires parties in a social contract to be completely ignorant of personal circumstances.
  2. Contracts made under ignorance are necessary for creating fair agreements.
  3. Power corrupts morality, and bargaining based on power undermines the validity of a social contract.

Foundation Principles and Formal Rules

0 implied HN points • 11 Sep 22
  1. Laws can be divided into foundational principles and formal rules.
  2. Foundational principles are universal ideas that protect people, property, and contracts.
  3. Formal rules are specific laws that implement foundational principles within societies.

In Defense of Authority

0 implied HN points • 10 Sep 22
  1. Being critical of authority and laws is a common trait, but blindly trusting government decisions has its benefits.
  2. The decline of fascism and communism has shifted our view on authority, but skepticism is important for progress.
  3. Specialization in modern times means deferring to experts on complex topics like monetary policy is often the best choice.

A Contractualist View of Government

0 implied HN points • 04 Sep 22
  1. Contracts with the government can be implicit, not just explicit.
  2. Courts can impose terms on contracts that reasonable people would agree to.
  3. Our relationship with the government should be based on reason and impartiality, not personal characteristics.