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A comment on A study of ethicists finds they’re no more ethical than the rest of us. Parent comment

Re:A study of ethicists finds they’re no more ethical than t... by whatshisface on Saturday March 30, 2019 @12:19PM (#19530195)
What everyone in this discussion seems to be missing is that the number one source of moral failures is not trying. The inborn human conscience provides so much ignored guidance that trying to help it out with books is pointless. Instead, we need to be thinking about how to get people to put some effort and sacrifice into having morals. It doesn't matter if you know one ethical truth or ten billion if you are not willing to sacrifice anything.
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Re:A study of ethicists finds they’re no more ethical than t... by astazangasta on Saturday March 30, 2019 @12:24PM (#19530224)
Empathy is not inborn, it is taught. Ask anyone with a toddler. Also people must be taught to broaden their circle of empathy to include foreigners, animals, etc. The capacity may be innate but it must be shaped by education, formal or otherwise.
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Re:A study of ethicists finds they’re no more ethical than t... by droithomme on Saturday March 30, 2019 @01:03PM (#19530485)
> Empathy is not inborn, it is taught.

I remember when I was a kid, around 6, I was out hiking with my dog and had gotten on top of this huge boulder and fell off. I fell pretty far, got scraped up bad, probably a concussion and I was laying on the ground moaning. My dog scampered down and he started whimpering and licking my face. He then ran a couple miles to get help, which he brought back.

Cats though don't do this sort of thing.

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Re:A study of ethicists finds they’re no more ethical than t... by whatshisface on Saturday March 30, 2019 @12:47PM (#19530372)
Is it taught, or does it "grow in?" Toddlers don't get empathy training.
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Re:A study of ethicists finds they’re no more ethical than t... by asark on Saturday March 30, 2019 @12:51PM (#19530405)
I can't say whether it's what makes the difference or it's a natural development, but they 100% for sure do. Both direct instruction and example behavior.
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Re:A study of ethicists finds they’re no more ethical than t... by whatshisface on Saturday March 30, 2019 @12:55PM (#19530435)
There are many parent who never instruct their kids to care about other people, and those kids turn out fine. The vast majority of what you have to tell a todller is variants of "don't put that in your mouth," and sometimes "stop hitting your sister." I've never heard of an admonition to "be more caring." (Note: that sounds like a heartwarming idea unless you have met a toddler before)
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