----- Original Message ----- From: "Carrol Cox" <cbcox at ilstu.edu> To: <lbo-talk at lists.panix.com> Sent: Saturday, May 11, 2002 11:16 AM Subject: Re: Cheap Morality, was Re: anti-zionism
> "I was suspicious of those who had no power over events taking rigorous
> moral positions." This holds even on the premise that all thinking and
> action should be based on a firmly developed ethic. Morality which
> cannot influence action is "cheap."
Perhaps you should remove me from your "kill file." As I stated before, one's positions in regards to situations where the principle cannot guide action often reveal what one would do in situations where the principle can guide action. Example: let's suppose that you are told about a gruesome murder that many bystanders were aware of and could have prevented but chose not to. Perhaps in a rare unguarded moment you might be moved to declare, "If I were there, I would've stopped the brute cold in his tracks." Obviously, this position cannot guide action. However, it seems to reveal a principle (e.g. I will prevent acts of violence when it is clearly in my power to do so) that might well impel you to act accordingly in different situations.
> Example: Nathan pompously announcing
> that he would under certain circumstances approve of bombing Israel.
After Seth solicited his response...
-- Luke