Saturday, June 24, 2017

There is always an additional question

In the midst of the ever swirling existential questions that plague my mind, the idea came to the fore of what one question ought to underlie it all.  When we are thinking about, discussing or arguing some meta-ethical question, are debating some socio-political point or are questioning the validity of any particular political action, the question beneath them all should be that of love.  Are we loving our neighbor by doing this or that thing?
Is the current day coal miner, by doing his job, loving his neighbor?  In one sense, it depends upon the actual environmental effects of burning coal.  Is the CEO of the local nuclear power plant loving his neighbor? Maybe yes, maybe no, again it depends upon the long term effects of nuclear power and nuclear waste.
Are we loving our neighbor when we do things that adversely and possibly long term affect our neighbor and our descendants.  How many of our actions are driven simply by our desire to satisfy our comfort?

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