Although slightly off-topic, I think debating morale is quite interesting
It's nice that you could bring back veganism to the thread, Vegangelica!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chainsawkitten
Sometimes utilitarianism does indeed confront one's feelings. I feel that that's inevitable with any true moral system as I believe that feelings can not determine morality.
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I think Vegangelica's point about the want or even desire for morale as something which is rooted in feelings is a good point which supports why a morale theory shouldn't conflict with your feelings.
I can add a more pragmatic example of why feelings are useful when it comes to guiding us in morality and how utilitarianism conflicts with them. Take the above example again; a hare gets shot or is tortured. Let's assume the suffering of the hare is the same, but in one scenario, the hunter recieves pleasure from the torture because he is a sadist. As a utilitarian, you argue that this could make the torture scenario the best of the two because you place moral value in the sadistic feelings of the hunter.
Assuming the suffering of the hare is the same and it's an isolated incidence, although it could be argued, I think your point makes sense as a utilitarian argument. However, if you question your feelings, again, I think you will be more morally disgusted by the sadist than the hunter. Such feelings are not necessarily irrational and come from nowhere. They generally work in the interest of your well being. The dislike towards the sadist is trying to tell you something, for example that this is a bad person and might be dangerous. As I mentioned earlier, reveling in torture isn't exactly the sign of a healthy mind and a winning personality.
Your feelings "know" this and are there to make you behave accordingly, yet utilitarianism wants you to protect this person's sadistic feelings. It's just not a good strategy to live by.
Generally speaking, feelings are a product of natural and sexual selection. In other words, they are not random but are the way they are because they have benefitted our fitness during our evolutionary history. They work in our interest. One can easily argue that the environment they evolved in is quite dissimilar to modern society and some of them might be a bit selfish, but I still think they are morally valuable.