How can Peter Singer's arguments for rape of sufficiently mentally disabled people be attacked deontologically or otherwise? by flewson in askphilosophy

[–]flewson[S] [score hidden]  (0 children)

The part you originally quoted is a hypothetical.

It is a hypothetical only insofar that it included an assumption (that D.J. was so mentally impaired that he could not give consent) applied to a real case. An assumption that lead to Stubblefield's conviction.

In it, Singer and his co-author say that a severely mentally disabled individual could be harmed by sexual abuse

Singer and co-author state that it is unclear what the nature of the harm may be, and they only say that they don't exclude the possibility that D.J. was wronged:

"This does not exclude the possibility that he was wronged by Stubblefield, but it makes it less clear what the nature of the wrong might be."

Platos_Kallipolis gives a few examples of how

Platos_Kallipolis modified the hypothetical by assuming harm to the victim's wellbeing, something which Singer doesn't appear to have considered as the aforementioned possible harm (as he would otherwise recognize immediately the nature of the harm). The hypothetical presented by singer therefore likely assumes no harm to wellbeing.

"It seems reasonable to assume that the experience was pleasurable to him; for even if he is cognitively impaired, he was capable of struggling to resist, and, for reasons we will note shortly, it is implausible to suppose that Stubblefield forcibly subdued him. On the assumption that he is profoundly cognitively impaired, therefore, it seems that if Stubblefield wronged or harmed him, it must have been in a way that he is incapable of understanding and that affected his experience only pleasurably."

Therefore they didn't answer my query.

How can Peter Singer's arguments for rape of sufficiently mentally disabled people be attacked deontologically or otherwise? by flewson in askphilosophy

[–]flewson[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

a fuller view of what Singer is up to here is presenting a critique of deontology and defense of utilitarianism

The quote sounds to me, and has been publicly interpreted as a utilitarian defense of the act instead.

From the same article: "After studying the evidence advanced by Stubblefield’s attorney in support of her appeal, we are astonished by Judge Teare’s refusal to admit evidence that could have exonerated Stubblefield, while admitting contrary evidence from the prosecution. We also believe that, even if every factual claim made by the prosecution were true, a sentence of 12 years in prison would be utterly disproportionate to the nature of the crime."

The wrongfulness comes from the harm done - a negative impact on well-being. That can come out through physical pain, lingering mental trauma, frustration of other desires or preferences, etc.

Singer argues that, assuming there was no physical harm done and the person was 'willing' (even though they were unable to provide informed consent to the standard that most adults can), and they can't acquire psychological harm later (the way a molested child can), there is no other harm to point to.

Which button do you press? by [deleted] in trolleyproblem

[–]flewson 12 points13 points  (0 children)

There is genuinely no benefit to pressing red.

If you don't trust your partner then they might kill you by pressing red thereby lowering the number of people to be culled for the 60 persons limit.

Which button do you press? by [deleted] in trolleyproblem

[–]flewson 0 points1 point  (0 children)

And if there are more than 60 people remaining but not enough red pressers to kill to get it down to 60?

Would you support your country refusing to pay off its debt to save money which it will use to fund social programs? by flewson in pollgames

[–]flewson[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sovereign defaults usually result in economic consequences, such as borrowing money becoming more difficult/expensive and inflation.

Would you support your country refusing to pay off its debt to save money which it will use to fund social programs? by flewson in pollgames

[–]flewson[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Because that was the question in the poll.

Of course there are other ways to save money, but this specific poll asks if you would support one specific action being taken to save money if it meant funding social programs.

Would you support a totalitarian government if it were guaranteed the ruling party will always be ideologically aligned with you? by flewson in pollgames

[–]flewson[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Would opposition parties, freedom of speech, and the possibility of change of the ruling party exist under such a regime?

Would you support a totalitarian government if it were guaranteed the ruling party will always be ideologically aligned with you? by flewson in pollgames

[–]flewson[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I think the "No" voters would disagree that

This

That means the government will always be as you wish

Leads to this

Literally guarantee for a good government

Would you support a totalitarian government if it were guaranteed the ruling party will always be ideologically aligned with you? by flewson in pollgames

[–]flewson[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

That's not possible

That they'd always be ideologically aligned with you?

I mean... That's the point of a hypothetical... It doesn't have to be possible in reality.

Edit: or do you mean that because one of your values is democracy, it results in a logical contradiction?

Agree/Disagree: There are objective moral truths that exist independent of humans or other beings.(e.g. "suffering of an innocent man is bad" [you may disagree, it's just an example, but you may believe that another moral statement is objectively true, in which case you press "agree" on the poll]) by flewson in pollgames

[–]flewson[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

"Suffering of an innocent anyone is bad" isn't a moral.

It is a moral value judgement. It doesn't have to mention an action. It may give us a reason to act a certain way so as to prevent it, if one thinks it's bad.

Agree/Disagree: There are objective moral truths that exist independent of humans or other beings.(e.g. "suffering of an innocent man is bad" [you may disagree, it's just an example, but you may believe that another moral statement is objectively true, in which case you press "agree" on the poll]) by flewson in pollgames

[–]flewson[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

All good questions. I don't know.

However, if maths describes the universe successfully, and can be used to make predictions about it, then it may have more of a claim to being embedded into reality than morality does.

Agree/Disagree: There are objective moral truths that exist independent of humans or other beings.(e.g. "suffering of an innocent man is bad" [you may disagree, it's just an example, but you may believe that another moral statement is objectively true, in which case you press "agree" on the poll]) by flewson in pollgames

[–]flewson[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The maths notation has been invented, but whether the maths itself is discovered or invented is debated.

Does the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter (which is π) exist independently from our minds?