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history_fan40 t1_j69inxi wrote

Given the atrocious strategy and execution Russia has used, I am not supporting them. I am not intentionally being a contrarian. However, I don’t think the rest of the world is doing the right thing by intervening. Ukraine does not have any binding military alliances (if they did, those countries would have officially joined in against Russia) and these other countries are violating neutrality.

Your comment did not at all address the point I was making that there’s nothing that we can say is objectively “wrong” about this.

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ThessierAshpool t1_j69lvim wrote

A county invades unprovoked and under false pretense a weaker neighbour which it had previously given security guarantees to, and proceeds to commit actual genocide. Yep, nothing objectively wrong about this.

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history_fan40 t1_j69phpv wrote

There’s no such thing as objectively wrong, so no, it’s not objectively wrong. However, most of us may agree in subjectively considering it wrong.

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Head_of_Lettuce t1_j69qoer wrote

That was a lot of words to say absolutely nothing

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history_fan40 t1_j69smpz wrote

What?

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Head_of_Lettuce t1_j69tgcr wrote

My point is that you're not really addressing the point of that person's comment.

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history_fan40 t1_j69wolk wrote

I did, though. They’re claiming it’s objectively wrong.

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NozE8 t1_j6ao56o wrote

What is your point? The human mind is not capable of being truly objective ergo nothing is truly objective. However in this context the use of the word is acceptable. Murder is wrong. This is a statement of fact and law not one based on feelings. Just because you can find a handful of crazy people that think they should be able to kill someone for any reason in their head doesn't invalidate the claim of objectivity.

You must be fun at parties.

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history_fan40 t1_j6btj8m wrote

> Murder is wrong

Not objectively. You say it is a statement of fact and not feeling, yet it is a statement of feeling. Everyone who was born is going to die anyways, so by your reasoning I’m assuming you also consider reproduction wrong? I mean in that case I would agree but for different reasons, but that is irrelevant.

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NozE8 t1_j6bzzzx wrote

The human mind is not capable of being truly objective ergo nothing is truly objective as I have said.

In the real world contemporary society has agreed that to function we have a certain set of rules that we agree in a way to be objectively true. Splitting this hair will get you no where.

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dadude100 t1_j69t2ry wrote

Murder is not objectively wrong? You’re just spewing nonsense, fuck off.

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Number6isNo1 t1_j6auyd8 wrote

Sounds like one of my friends in college after he took Philosophy 101. Thought he was fucking Aristotle after being assigned an excerpt from Nicomachean Ethics. Insufferable for a month or so.

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history_fan40 t1_j69w09e wrote

Objective means factual. Good and bad are not fact-based.

Further, one could argue that action is actually doing the person a favor.

It’s not nonsense just because you disagree. It’s actually what this sub is generally obsessed with, nuance.

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vkstu t1_j6a4knr wrote

>Good and bad are not fact-based

It's objectively bad to drink bleach, to maintain well being.

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history_fan40 t1_j6a550y wrote

That’s conditional, not really objective.

What happens as a result of that isn’t objectively bad, and besides, that will happen to us all no matter what.

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vkstu t1_j6a63za wrote

Of course it's conditional, life is conditional. You can objectively say genocide is bad based on the conditions provided. And if that condition is that life is 'sacred' or whether genocide itself is outlawed, then you cannot but conclude that what is happening in Ukraine is objectively bad.

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history_fan40 t1_j6a7ded wrote

Right, but life is not “sacred”.

Something being illegal also doesn’t make it objectively bad. For example, atheism is criminalized in Saudi Arabia, but it isn’t objectively bad (again, nothing is).

However, I do agree with you in subjectively determining that genocide is not good (it is also not objectively good, as nothing is). It is also not objectively bad.

Your “maintaining well being” example is also flawed as that is also not objectively good.

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vkstu t1_j6a85df wrote

I think you missed the point of it being conditional... It's a very narrow view to think good or bad are entirely objective, it's also a very narrow view to think good or bad are entirely subjective. Conditions are which will decide whether something is subjectively or objectively good or bad.

As for whether life is 'sacred', it's why I added quotation marks around it. I don't mean it in the literal sense, I mean it in the conventions we've universally decided on.

> Your “maintaining well being” example is also flawed as that is also not objectively good.

Ah, it's flawed, yet I see no argument as to why. Interesting.

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history_fan40 t1_j6bdcwi wrote

Ah, but I was talking in terms of ethics. Ethical good and bad are entirely subjective.

If the goal is to maintain stable health, drinking water does help, but it’s not objectively good. A goal of maintaining stable health is also not objectively good to have.

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vkstu t1_j6bhem9 wrote

I suggest you start reading about ethical objectivism. You've clearly skipped this part in philosophy.

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history_fan40 t1_j6c19om wrote

I’ve read about it and can clearly see it is nonsensical. “Morality” and “ethics” are concepts we invented.

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vkstu t1_j6c7etp wrote

Hahaha, well then our discussion is done. You clearly haven't understood the meaning of it. Your view is too black and white. At this point our argument will devolve in your position is nonsensical, no yours, no yours.

As for whether we invented it or not. Did we invent maths or are they part of fundamental truths of the universe? Why can't that hold for (parts of) morality or ethics?

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history_fan40 t1_j6d0gf0 wrote

Math is objective. One cannot simply say “2 + 2 is 85 because I said so”. 2 + 2 is in fact not 85.

Morality and ethics are not objective. There’s no such thing as “fundamental truths of the universe”. In some cases, an action is considered bad, while in others, it is considered good. Meanwhile, 2 + 2 is always equal to 4.

Life did not always exist and will not always exist. One person having a certain idea of ethics does not make it objective. Further, any decision made by humans or other complex animals is entirely based on the electrical signals being transmitted among their neurons. You can’t judge these actions.

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vkstu t1_j6d4ne1 wrote

Why? You haven't explained why it can't be so at all. In fact every building block in the world is based on those fundamental laws, so in essence, however complex we are we still are build and limited by it. Ergo, ethics and morality can therefore also be fundamental. One may consider something good, but be wrong. Exactly like someone who says 2+2=85 is wrong. Just because there are more opinions, doesn't negate the fact it can logically be a wrong opinion.

Also funny you speak of electrical signals as basis of our consciousness, if anything that proves my point.

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history_fan40 t1_j6d5v5d wrote

How can something be objectively ethically good or bad? That entirely depends on what a person considers “desirable”, which is subjective.

How does it prove your point? You do realize parts of our brains are for subjective things, right?

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vkstu t1_j6dclwf wrote

A universe based on fundamental truths cannot create something that does not adhere by those fundamental truths. It's based on objectivity and thus we cannot suddenly have subjectivity. Differing opinions does not mean that it is therefore subjective, it means that the parameters have changed. For something good to one, can make it bad to another due to their internal parameters (their life). Where genocide of one species, can be good for another, it still is fundamentally bad for the species being genocided.

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history_fan40 t1_j6dl2wv wrote

Ethics and morality are not “fundamental truths”.

You’re again subjectively placing a positive value on life and existence.

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vkstu t1_j6dm1xb wrote

That's not a response at all. You're merely saying it isn't because you think it isn't, there isn't an argument in there. Nature itself is based on fundamental laws, your brain uses fundamental laws to work, your thoughts therefore are based on fundamental laws. It can of course reach faulty conclusions, or think 'different' based on different parameters used, creating the illusion of subjectivity.

I am not placing any value on it, I'm saying that ending existance is a negative to existance. That's objective. It's like saying 0-1=-1 is a negative.

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history_fan40 t1_j6dmmw5 wrote

Life didn’t always exist, so ethics and morality aren’t fundamental truths of existence, as one cannot apply these to non-life. Mathematical relationships existed whether or not there was anybody to observe them.

> negative to existence

Sure, but that doesn’t make it negative overall. It’s also more like +/- 1 -/+ 1 = 0. Non-existence is neutral.

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vkstu t1_j6dodnb wrote

> Life didn’t always exist

Define life.

> So ethics and morality aren’t fundamental truths of existence, as one cannot apply these to non-life.

Nor is that its intention, that does not make them unable to be objective. It's a false equivalence.

> Mathematical relationships existed whether or not there was anybody to observe them.

I think quantum theory would like a word with you. But, that still does not argue that morality can't be objective. Just because we've thought of them, does not make them illogical or non objective.

> Sure, but that doesn’t make it negative overall. It’s also more like +/- 1 -/+ 1 = 0. Non-existence is neutral.

Sure, so living is a positive then. I figured you would've wanted me to express existance as a 0 (nihilism), hence my example.

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vkstu t1_j6a3lyj wrote

I'd love to hear your explanation of how genocide can be (morality wise) good, to counter an 'it's objectively wrong' argument. For it to be unable to be called objectively wrong, one needs to be able to prove it can be good (subjectively or otherwise).

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history_fan40 t1_j6a4f8p wrote

Things can be neither good nor bad (and objectively, they are always neither of those). But if you want me to name one thing I would consider a positive, if it is done, the people it is being done to would never suffer again. I don’t support it, because this is selective, which means treating groups unequally with no reason, which I don’t agree with. So no, I don’t consider it good.

However, nothing can be objectively wrong no matter what it is, because “wrong” is a subjective statement, just as “right” or “good” are.

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vkstu t1_j6a4wrp wrote

You're wrong.

As I replied to another post of yours, you can very well make objectively good and bad statements.

It is objectively good to keep hydrated to maintain well being. For example.

> If it is done, the people it is being done to would never suffer again.

Making a huge assumption here that they are or were suffering before being genocided. So that's adding a precondition that isn't necessarily so to the question asked.

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history_fan40 t1_j6a6zvr wrote

> it is objectively good to keep hydrated to maintain well being

Using that logic, it is objectively good to invade countries to expand your territory.

“Maintaining well being” cannot be considered objectively good. Nothing can, just as nothing can be considered objectively bad.

> assumption that they are or were suffering

Not an assumption, everybody that exists suffers. If you doubt that, suffering is literally defined as “the state of undergoing pain, distress, or hardship”. One technically undergoes hardship while trying to get food, which one needs in order to live.

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vkstu t1_j6a7k9s wrote

> Using that logic, it is objectively good to invade countries to expand your territory.

No, because you in this case subjectively add that expanding territory is always a positive. It may not be for multitude of reasons. Not hydrating yourself properly is never a positive for your well being.

> Not an assumption, everybody that exists suffers.

Ah, a nihilism hardliner are we? Most people would put the cons and pros against each other to decide whether they're suffering in life, rather than only look at the bad to decide they're suffering.

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history_fan40 t1_j6a8hbg wrote

> you in this case subjectively add

You’re also subjectively adding that “maintaining well being” is a positive in your example.

> decide whether they’re suffering

I already showed that everyone suffers by definition. That is true regardless of whether or not they view their lives as a net positive, a net negative, or neutral.

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vkstu t1_j6a91zc wrote

>You’re also subjectively adding that “maintaining well being” is a positive in your example.

That's not what subjective means. Expanding territory is in this case meant as always being a positive, which doesn't have to be so. Well being is clearly defined, your body dying is not maintaining well being. Hence always objectively good and bad by the condition provided. I think you've missed the part of philosophical teachings regarding good and bad that states regarding health issues and a few other things it can very well be made to be objective.

>I already showed that everyone suffers by definition. That is true regardless of whether or not they view their lives as a net positive, a net negative, or neutral.

You have not. You implied all people suffer by definition, but that is not the case. People suffer when they have more hardship to deal with than pleasure they feel. You're looking at it from a very nihilistic and negative view, that any bit of hardship means people suffer. If we follow your reasoning, I can also argue all people are joyous. For they have moments in their life that are joyful, tasting food for example.

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nagrom7 t1_j6b6coa wrote

> There’s no such thing as objectively wrong

Believe it or not, this is objectively wrong. If someone says 2+2=85, they are objectively wrong. There are a lot of things in this word that are not just a matter of opinion, as much as certain groups of delusional people disagree.

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history_fan40 t1_j6bd0yr wrote

I was saying one can’t judge something as ethically “objectively right” or “objectively wrong”.

Obviously someone saying 2 + 2 = 85 is objectively wrong.

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geophilo t1_j6a0310 wrote

Oh my god your false sense of insight has resulted in some truly inane statements.

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history_fan40 t1_j6a0g42 wrote

There is no “sense of enlightenment”.

My statements aren’t “inane”, but please, enlighten me. Why do you think so?

In fact, the people trying to debate with me on this are inevitably making inane statements.

The first three words of your comment, if you mean it literally and not just something people say, draw into question your credibility on calling things “inane”.

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Ancient_Arr t1_j6a3c3s wrote

Hows putins cock taste?

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progrethth t1_j6a53nh wrote

I do not think they are pro-Putin, they just seem contrarian for the sake of it.

> I am not intentionally being a contrarian. However, ...

which is just like

> Not to be a racist, but ...

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vkstu t1_j6a5zhy wrote

Exactly. It sounds like he's taking some of his philosophy teachings too stringent, and disregarding other philosophical teachings that do not say "bad and good are entirely subjective", but rather more nuanced.

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history_fan40 t1_j6a3jk4 wrote

I don’t support Putin. I’ve already said I’m not supporting Russia, but it’s also not objectively wrong (because nothing is objectively wrong) to invade another country.

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12inch3installments t1_j6de52t wrote

In your own words though, you only don't support him due to lack of planning and bad execution, not due to the unprovoked and unjustified assault on a peaceful sovereign nation and its citizens all in the name of installing a puppet regime and stealing its resources. You also see nothing "objectively wrong" with his direct attacks on non combatant civilian populations.

You are, simply put, a Putin supporter and sympathizer.

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history_fan40 t1_j6dj1e6 wrote

No. I subjectively agree in considering his attacks on civilians wrong, but it’s not objectively wrong, as nothing is. Some civilians were definitely going to get hurt as collateral damage, but clearly Russia is going out of its way to unnecessarily harm them (which is just stupid considering at this point even if they did win it wouldn’t be worth it), which I don’t support.

I am not a Putin supporter. Look what he has done. He has exposed Russia’s military as atrocious, causing our fate to not be a Third World War, but something much more drawn-out and painful, he has ruined his country’s economy, and ruined a lot of people’s lives. That being said, I don’t think launching offensives should be met with such opposition from countries that aren’t even fighting in the war.

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Ok_Yogurtcloset8915 t1_j6asc09 wrote

"violating neutrality"? what neutrality? no one has an obligation to Russia to remain neutral. there is no violation.

additionally, the first person to bring up the concept of objective vs. subjective wrongness was yourself. the person you initially replied to did not say it was objectively wrong. they simply said it was wrong. if you believe that there is no such thing as objective wrongness, then you should have no problem with their statement, as it must be their own opinion. if you believe their opinion that genocide is wrong is incorrect, argue with that, don't attempt to set up a strawman about moral objectivism

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history_fan40 t1_j6bdkra wrote

> what neutrality

None of these countries are technically at war with Russia.

> the person you initially replied to did not say it was objectively wrong

Indeed, they did not directly state it, but it was heavily implied.

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Ok_Yogurtcloset8915 t1_j6bjhdm wrote

not being at war with Russia does not carry any obligation to not provide arms to Russia's opponent or to not sanction them. I have no idea what principles you think are being violated here.

it is simply your opinion that it was heavily implied. they did not state that they believe genocide is objectively wrong. without such a statement, it is senseless to try to start a debate about whether objective wrongness exists, as that isn't relevant to their point.

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vkstu t1_j6bjw3m wrote

That sounds awfully subjective whether they implied or not.

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