Question about Objectivist Ethics

In Viable Values, Tara Smith says that good and evil (and, derivatively, right and wrong) exist only in relation to the quest for life. (i.e., things can be good or evil, right or wrong only for someone who wants to live). Yet she also says that there is not some alternate way of life which is ammoral (check page 110, I think). So which is the Objectivist view? If good and evil, right and wrong exist only in relation to the pursuit of life, then one is being amoral if he chooses death. Yet she says there is no such possibility as an ammoral life. (Also, Peikoff says in OPAR that the man who would throw away his life as an end-in-itself would belong on the lowest rung of hell in Objectivism, but I think that this is just another inconsistency altogether.)

Post 1

Thursday, July 17, 2008 - 2:40pm

Christopher,

If you're going to ask us to comment on Tara Smith's book, then you should quote the relevant passages (always remembering to keep the full context), instead of paraphrasing, as you have. Otherwise, for all we know, you may not have correctly interpreted her argument. You use the term "ammoral" (the proper spelling is "amoral"). Did you mean to say "immoral"? "Amoral" means neither moral nor immoral. In any case, you need to quote her and be careful to cite the correct page number(s), so we can evaluate your criticism.

Thanks.

- Bill

Post 2

Thursday, July 17, 2008 - 2:41pm

I haven't read Tara Smith so I cannot attest to her views. Still, I would guess she is saying that right/wrong/good/evil (RWGE) exist only in relation to life as opposed to rocks and buttons, which are consigned to the amoral.

I would also guess that she is saying that every choice we make either furthers our life (i.e., is right/good) or hinders it (i.e., is wrong/evil), so amorality is not an option for the living.

I do not think Objectivism accepts that RWGE depend on whether we want to live. For Objectivism, RGWE exist independent of what we want. However, Objectivists, I think, would say that, while RGWE don't depend on wants, they are *useless* unless and until we *first* choose to live.

As an analogy, there's no point in figuring out how to sail unless and until we choose to get on the boat. Better and worse sailing techniques exist regardless of whether we climb aboard. But who cares about those if we remain landlubbers?

Full speed ahead,
Jordan

Post 3

Thursday, July 17, 2008 - 5:13pm

Good analogy, Jordan

Saturday, July 19, 2008 - 9:27pm