this post was submitted on 14 Jul 2024
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That's a very honest and self reflective stance that I think a lot of people would agree with. I don't think it's a moral failing, much of morality is putting aside your basic instinct and desire in favor of your rational mind realizing what's best for you and society at large.
People have empathy to varying degrees and it's something that needs training just like any other skill. Acknowledging where you have gaps and working rationally around those gaps is how you become a moral person. I don't think you were necessarily being hard on yourself but others feeling the same way might be so I figured I'd share this perspective.
Well thank you for that assurance. It’s a scary thing to admit to, especially when you see people around you who seemingly do not struggle with this sort of thing. The whole, “I don’t need a book/law to tell me what’s right or wrong,” are lucky in that respect.
I don't think any individual is implicitly moral with regards to everything. I'm not suggesting everyone has the same hidden desires but I believe everyone has some instinctive behaviors and thoughts that they need to challenge rationally in some way or another. Philosophical frameworks for morality wouldn't exist or be debated if it was unusual to need a rational framework for moral behavior.
Unless somehow every harm someone inflicted on another somehow affected themselves in the same way there'll always be a selfish instinct that has to be overcome. If it was easy it wouldn't be something to admire and respect as part of one's character.
Why should I put aside my feelings to protect someone else's feelings who aren't even gonna feel them for not knowing?