Who AGBF-A Girl''s Best Friend

[miraclesrule]

Hey AGBF!!

I just wanted to stop by and say Hi. I really enjoyed reading your thread and really enjoy reading your political posts as well.

It''s so refreshing to talk to someone who is as educated as you in more "worldly" affairs and can see outside the small American box. Wow, so many languages.

What language do you like to curse in the most? My Mom prefers German so that''s what I grew up with. I didn''t learn real American cursing until school time.

 

[Harriet]

Deb,

Here''s a definition of "moral luck" (from the online Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy):

"Moral luck occurs when an agent can be correctly treated as an object of moral judgment despite the fact that a significant aspect of what she is assessed for depends on factors beyond her control. Bernard Williams writes, “when I first introduced the expression moral luck, I expected to suggest an oxymoron” (Williams 1993, 251). Indeed, immunity from luck has been thought by many to be part of the very essence of morality. And yet, as Williams (1981) and Thomas Nagel (1979) showed in their now classic pair of articles, it appears that our everyday judgments and practices commit us to the existence of moral luck. The problem of moral luck arises because we seem to be committed to the general principle that we are morally assessable only to the extent that what we are assessed for depends on factors under our control (call this the “Control Principle”). At the same time, when it comes to countless particular cases, we morally assess agents for things that depend on factors that are not in their control. And making the situation still more problematic is the fact that a very natural line of reasoning suggests that it is impossible to morally assess anyone for anything if we adhere to the Control Principle."

Say a person had been driving negligently. If he had killed a child dashing across the street, one would hold him responsible. What if he had been lucky and there had been no such child? Would he still be responsible?

 

[Skippy123]

Deb, do you have any pictures of your daughter''s beautiful new opal? I would love to see it if you get a chance!!! I have to say Deb is one of the sweetest people ever with a huge heart and I admire your heart!!! I feel lucky to know you on Pricescope!!

 

[AGBF]

Uh oh! I''m in trouble! I was in Jewelry Pieces, which is O.K. after 11 pm. But I was told there to check "Who''s Who". (Thank you, MiraclesRule, Skippy, and Harriet for posting to, for, and about me!)

At any rate, Harriet, this Moral Luck stuff is deep! I know that I have sometimes said prayers of thanks and contrition (to a God in whom I do not really believe) for keeping me from harming someone while making a move with my car which could have been hazardous to someone had anyone been there. So I know I will have to study the paragraph in the morning! And maybe do some more reading on the concept! (I understood the example, but not the definition, you see.)

I love you all!

Deb

 

[miraclesrule]

Hey Deb,

Did you check out the article I posted for you in your thread in Around the World. You''ve probably already read up about it, but I posted it for you so you could read the 1st person article.

 

[AGBF]

Date: 9/8/2008 11:13:48 PM

Author: miraclesrule

Did you check out the article I posted for you in your thread in Around the World. You''ve probably already read up about it, but I posted it for you so you could read the 1st person article.

miraclesrule, if you mean the article about Amy Goodman, I read it (due to your posting the link) days ago, but neglected to say, "thank you". Thank you!! I love your contributions to political threads; I just do not have the grace to say so.


Deborah

 

[Harriet]

Deb,

When will you next be in CT? Also, I have a question for you in ATW.

 

[Harriet]

Deb dear,
Do you ever check your thread?