- Moderator
- #1
Is there ever a time where a sacrifice of ones principles leads to the greater good?
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Altruism, the moral code of humans for most of there existence, demands that man sacrifice for a greater good (that "good" being either God, society, or the state).
Sacrifice, by definition means to give up a higher value for a lower one. It is immoral to give up a higher value for a lower one for no other reason than someone or something other than yourself.
That's actually not the pertinent question.
The real question is..... IF someone is willing to sacrifice their principles for the "greater good", did they ever really believe in those principles to begin with?" I would suggest that the answer is a definitive.... "NO"
Sometimes principles ARE expediency. I often get the feeling when someone says "I have principles", what they really mean is "I don't have to think about this one". I don't believe in leaving your brain in neutral over an "ism". Look what that did in the last century.
Altruism, the moral code of humans for most of there existence, demands that man sacrifice for a greater good (that "good" being either God, society, or the state).
Sacrifice, by definition means to give up a higher value for a lower one. It is immoral to give up a higher value for a lower one for no other reason than someone or something other than yourself.
I think you're playing with words here. If one sacrifices himself to save 100, how is that a lower value?
You can't just take the defintion of a word that fits your thesis, you have to take in the totality of its meaning coupled with what was intended when it was said.
Altruism, the moral code of humans for most of there existence, demands that man sacrifice for a greater good (that "good" being either God, society, or the state).
Sacrifice, by definition means to give up a higher value for a lower one. It is immoral to give up a higher value for a lower one for no other reason than someone or something other than yourself.
I think you're playing with words here. If one sacrifices himself to save 100, how is that a lower value?
If intervening to save 100 strangers amounts to my suicide, then such intervention would be deeply immoral because it constitutes a clear sacrifice. My highest value is my own life, and I hold no responsibility for the lives of others (just as others have no responsibility to my life).
You can't just take the defintion of a word that fits your thesis, you have to take in the totality of its meaning coupled with what was intended when it was said.
It's not a thesis. It's the definition of the word.