Morality and Reason

“The emotions are, in fact, in charge of the temple of morality, and ... moral reasoning is really just a servant masquerading as a high priest.”

-- Jonathan Haidt

David Brooks has a good column today on morality and the limits of philosophy. The heart has ways that the mind can only begin to fathom. This notion of emotion-based morality doesn't seem especially prescriptive, but only brings out why we have so much trouble catching the essence of morality in our deeply reasoned snares, being such a living, dynamic force - the quintessentially human.

( Brooks column )

Morality and Reason

“The emotions are, in fact, in charge of the temple of morality, and ... moral reasoning is really just a servant masquerading as a high priest.”

-- Jonathan Haidt

David Brooks has a good column today on morality and the limits of philosophy. The heart has ways that the mind can only begin to fathom. This notion of emotion-based morality doesn't seem especially prescriptive, but only brings out why we have so much trouble catching the essence of morality in our deeply reasoned snares, being such a living, dynamic force - the quintessentially human.

( Brooks column )

Feline Reconnaissance

I'm in the theater when I hear Father opening the sliding door and shouting at the cats. Willy is on the fence looking over the back neighbor's yard, the one with the two cat-hating dogs. Willy just lays there on the fence surveying that yard. I'm surprised that the dogs aren't at him barking savagely. Maybe they're sleeping soundly? I hope that Willy isn't thinking that the quiet is an opportunity to check out the food dishes that the neighbor may have set out.

I guess cats get bored, too. I just hope curiosity is kinder to this cat.

Feline Reconnaissance

I'm in the theater when I hear Father opening the sliding door and shouting at the cats. Willy is on the fence looking over the back neighbor's yard, the one with the two cat-hating dogs. Willy just lays there on the fence surveying that yard. I'm surprised that the dogs aren't at him barking savagely. Maybe they're sleeping soundly? I hope that Willy isn't thinking that the quiet is an opportunity to check out the food dishes that the neighbor may have set out.

I guess cats get bored, too. I just hope curiosity is kinder to this cat.