emotivsm is true? so what?

[danseen]

Even if we make moral decisions largely by emotion, why is this bad? Emotions are just as valid as "logic" in human actions.

and logic? "logic" has its place, but "logic" dictated the practice of slavery. "Logic" was used to abolish it, just like how it was "logical" not to have slaves because of the Industrial Revolution, or "logical" for the USA to fight the CSA and its "logical" right to own slaves....

Does emotivism really stand up as a moral theory?

 

[Passacaglia]

I consider myself a fairly rational person, but I'd rather support the right kind of emotion than the wrong kind of reason.

 

[danseen]

so people have to be rational? ok.

 

[Julius_Van_Der_Beak]

Even if we make moral decisions largely by emotion, why is this bad? Emotions are just as valid as "logic" in human actions.

and logic? "logic" has its place, but "logic" dictated the practice of slavery. "Logic" was used to abolish it, just like how it was "logical" not to have slaves because of the Industrial Revolution, or "logical" for the USA to fight the CSA and its "logical" right to own slaves....

Does emotivism really stand up as a moral theory?

I'd argue that war and slavery are highly illogical. They're driven by emotions, just different emotions, whether the person realizes that or not.

 

[Frosty]

You can be rational but still give some credit to your emotions. For example, you have to fire someone. They are an awful employee and it is for the best of the company that you see them go. But they have 5 children and their spouse is out of work. You can feel sympathy for them, even while you do what you need to do. Maybe you even send them off with some sort of company bonus or something. Help them while still doing what is best for everyone else. The problem comes when you put too much emphasis on any one mode of operandi. If you always are on peoples cases and fire people at the slightest provocation because they are not working out for you in the moment, then you become an inflexible hardass and no one will want to work for you. If you are too nice and you let too many things slide then everyone wants to work for you but no one actually does any work. You become a pushover and are paying people for work that they are not doing, and the company fails. Everything is about using your judgement. You should work to develop the functions that are the weakest so that you can develop a healthy balance. Variety is the spice of life, make the best quesadilla that you can.

Slavery was more of a part of culture, after a while the practice became less of an individual decision and more of a way of life. The practice itself was rooted more with ignorant logic. It just really did not occur to people to think of slaves as anywhere near on the same level as them, they would not feel anything killing a chicken for dinner so why would they care if they had to flog a slave for running away. It is hard to be emotional about something when you dont even realize that emotion is warrented.

 

[Passacaglia]

so people have to be rational? ok.

...I'd rather support the right kind of emotion than the wrong kind of reason.

Clipped for the relevant bit.

 

[Coriolis]

so people have to be rational? ok.

Of course they do not have to be rational, but they cannot then complain about having to face the consequences of their irrationality.

It is unwise to make moral decisions based on emotions. Values are a much better foundation. Logic is indispensible as a process in making the decision, but without sound inputs it will lead to nonsense outcomes. Inputs include values, objective data about the situation, and yes, emotions as well.