CentaurJF
Smash Rookie
- Joined
- May 3, 2014
- Messages
- 13
This is a thought experiment i came up. I was inspired by Edmund Gettier, although it is a different realm of knowledge. Let me just mention i am finishing a degree in philosophy as we speak, so i know most of the jargon and names (i hope you do too but i actually LIKE getting non philosophers ideas too). I am trying to get this published, so all criticism is welcomed.
There are two families that live in Nowheresville; the Jones family and the Peters family. The Jones family is rich, and the Peters family is poor. No one in the town of Nowheresville is aware that Mr. Jones (head of household Jones) strongly dislikes Mr. Peters (head of household Peters).
The Peters family is about to become homeless and starts begging for money of the streets, and the people of Nowheresville give here and there, but it is not enough to get them back on their feet. Mr. Jones sees this and becomes furious, so he gives Mr. Peters enough money to get back on his feet, although he doesn't want to. He gives Mr. Peters the money because he wanted to get him off of his street and to stop begging.
The people of Nowheresville see what Jones did and they thank him dearly for it, while Mr. Jones accepts all of the attention. Mr. Jones is awarded the key to the city and benefits from this greatly, furthering his career in politics. Keep in mind, he still dislikes the Peters family.
Was Jones's act a good or bad act?
There are a couple of ways to answer this that i have come up with for both sides (good and bad) -
Bad person because he did it only to better himself. He doesnt care about the Peters family.
Good person because he is perceived as a good person from everyone else, regardless of his intentions, and therefore makes him good.
And my answer - Jones is a good person because his morals actually overrode his knowledge, although even Mr. Jones was not even aware of it.
There are two families that live in Nowheresville; the Jones family and the Peters family. The Jones family is rich, and the Peters family is poor. No one in the town of Nowheresville is aware that Mr. Jones (head of household Jones) strongly dislikes Mr. Peters (head of household Peters).
The Peters family is about to become homeless and starts begging for money of the streets, and the people of Nowheresville give here and there, but it is not enough to get them back on their feet. Mr. Jones sees this and becomes furious, so he gives Mr. Peters enough money to get back on his feet, although he doesn't want to. He gives Mr. Peters the money because he wanted to get him off of his street and to stop begging.
The people of Nowheresville see what Jones did and they thank him dearly for it, while Mr. Jones accepts all of the attention. Mr. Jones is awarded the key to the city and benefits from this greatly, furthering his career in politics. Keep in mind, he still dislikes the Peters family.
Was Jones's act a good or bad act?
There are a couple of ways to answer this that i have come up with for both sides (good and bad) -
Bad person because he did it only to better himself. He doesnt care about the Peters family.
Good person because he is perceived as a good person from everyone else, regardless of his intentions, and therefore makes him good.
And my answer - Jones is a good person because his morals actually overrode his knowledge, although even Mr. Jones was not even aware of it.
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