[MD] A Science of Morals

[Steven Peterson]

Hi Craig,

On Wed, Apr 7, 2010 at 5:05 PM,  <craigerb at comcast.net> wrote:
> [Steve]
>> I'm not sure that punishment has a place in a rational approach to
>> morality and justice. Why ought someone be punished? I suppose the
>> fear of punishment is a useful deterrent, but that doesn't apply in
>> this case. What other end could punishment serve in this case?
>
> That's just the point.  For you punishment is a deterrent; for someone else
> punishment is revenge; for someone else it is justice; for someone else
> fairness.  There is nothing in the description of the senario that entails
> one set of values over the other.
> Do our values depend on what is rational or does what is rational depend
> on our values?
> Craig

Steve:
It is true that we don't have an agreed upon notion of justice, but we
could say the same of physical health. Some people say it's being able
to run 10 miles. Some say it is being able to bench press 150 punds.
Some say it is being able to live to 85. Others think it is having
bright eyes and a shiny coat. Others think it is having a nice healthy
tan. Nevertheless, we don't doubt that science can help us become more
healhy and contribute to the debate about what it really means to be
healthy.

Just as people can be wrong about it being healthy to have a tan, they
be be wrong about whether or not revenge is really justice.

Best,
Steve