No, why would it be?

You could argue "just because you know what's right, doesn't mean you will do it". But sometimes you will. And having false beliefs naturally leads to doing wrong.

Why would you suppose anyone can answer that question when it is impossible to know what it means without explanation.

I know a little about Dutch etiquete, rules for behaviour in public.

Etiquette is flexible, friendly to females and doesn't dicriminate. It set rules for dressing and daily life. It's up to a person to live up to it.

We call it Be-Leef-d / to have lived

Formal Ethics are outdated.

Pepijn Sweep, Ox:bigsmile:

I do apologize I am just trying to find out if others see a value in the study of ethics.

What kind of value have you in mind? I imagine some do, else why would they study it? I think it is up to you to say why you think that it would not be valuable to study ethics. What would be the matter with studying it?

I do not have answers only questions, The question is do the readers see a value in studying ethics. You bring up a good point, what is the value of studying ethics to the reader?

I see value in the study of anything positive. Study brings knowledge and skills to the forefront of our mind. We are then better able to apply our studies to our lives and habits.
We can't improve much if we don't think about it.

Well, one answer would be that they would like to find out what is true or false in ethics. For instance, is there true or false in ethics? That might be one question that interests someone who is studying ethics. Or, someone might want to know what is the Highest Good which Aristotle discusses in his Nichomachean Ethics. Why would anyone call these issues a joke?

The only thing that would call the study of ethics a joke would be the mass society. But generally, that is too stupid to know what is good for it.

That may be true. But is no argument.

the value of ethics , and therefore , the study of ethics , is found in the continuation of Humanity

and the continuation of Humanity should be foremost in our ethical thinking and behaviour

Wait. How does it do that?

Quote:
Originally Posted by north
the value of ethics , and therefore , the study of ethics , is found in the continuation of Humanity

and the continuation of Humanity should be foremost in our ethical thinking and behaviour





by figuring out the attitude that we should all have towards each other and countries should have towards each other

But Humanity has continued, and they have not done that, at least not yet.

Quote:
Originally Posted by north
Quote:
Originally Posted by north [URL="http://www.philosophyforum.com/images/PHBlue/buttons/viewpost.gif"]http://www.philosophyforum.com/image...s/viewpost.gif[/URL]
the value of ethics , and therefore , the study of ethics , is found in the continuation of Humanity

and the continuation of Humanity should be foremost in our ethical thinking and behaviour





by figuring out the attitude that we should all have towards each other and countries should have towards each other





because in the big Universal picture , there has not been , as of yet , a being OUT THERE that has challenged our very survival , yet

we tend to forget the big picture , we do........

If so, it's not a very funny one.

Greetings, rl,

What is your position on the question? May I ask a question of the questioner? I'm curious as to your views on the topic?

I for one see enormous value in studying the field, for I believe there is a crying need for ethics in the world today - for many good reasons which I have given earlier See the Introduction to LIVING THE GOOD LIFE.

For example, we are on the verge now of a war in space, where drones and robots shoot things down. These robots do not discriminate innocents from guilty; nor an old woman in a wheelchair from a combattant. And the debris from spent missiles is liable to fall down upon anyone's head thereby inflicting injury. All this is done in the name of saving lives (those of "our boys.") The climate change, the environment, is being neglected. All this points toward a practical extinction of the human species. We've got to get out act together soon! We need to learn some Ethics.

Ethics is never boring. May be not as funny as Road-Runner or Wall Street bankers, but we ethics hang in and will learn communicate more directly. We strive for Wisdom and Knowledge; we dislike dumbness, especially if you can make other choices.

The study is no laugh. Law is a piece of cake compared to Philophy. Not to mention Business School. Schools should be more training reason, wisdom and social skills.

Sorry to interfer with your domestic budget. Dutch are shareholders and bankers of US; yust checking our inerests.

That's Mondial.

Did USA ever pay the Louisiana Land Purchase back to De Amsterdamse Bank ?

I am a little confused by the apparent hostility in this thread. The original question seems a straightforward request for opinions. So I'll offer mine cautiously, so as not to offend anyone.

I do not think that the study of ethics is a joke. It does not appeal to everyone, nor do I expect the popularity of this branch of philosophy to increase. Unfortunately, those it does attract are often satisfied to leave it an adjunct to a larger cosmic or political vision, and lose sight of vital issues at hand in the midst of pedantic bickering with metaphysically contrary perspectives -- limiting the potential effectiveness of their ethical insights. However, even those who choose to avoid studying the topic abstractly find themselves making ethical decisions on a daily basis. So, whether one wants to regard it as worthy of study seems a bit beyond the point, ethics is inevitable.

We are all born into a world filled with other people. Unable to take care of ourselves as children, we begin by being dependent upon these others for survival. Later in life, while there are some rugged individualists out there living entirely independently, for most of us this need for others remains a constant condition. Our ability to provide for ourselves may improve, but our needs and desires develop apace. A large portion of our time is taken up with dealing with our fellow human beings: what we continue to need from them, what we want from them, and how best to deal with what they want and need from us. We may pursue our own interests, but we are rarely in a position where we do not have to take other people into account in some form. They are very difficult to avoid. This uncomfortable circumstance is what impels some people to consider larger ethical questions.

I must say though, that I do not think that there are any final answers in this branch of philosophy. As society changes so too will ethical thinking be forced to adapt. It is an area of thought that must balance principles with pragmatics, and no solution to ethical issues will remain permanently or universally applicable.

Incidentally, I'm not sure what a true ethics would look like, but regardless I think its truth value would be beside the point. Ethics is the use of reason (whatever that may be) to improve our ability to communicate with one another and to resolve conflicts of interest. And while I don't think that it's a joke, it does usually go a little better if you have a sense of humor.