But we, the people are the evolutionary filter of traditions. We decide which ones are the fit ones, which ones of the ones we inherited will we pass down and which to banish into history.
Tradition is the lowest common denominator, and relying on our collective filter for social evolution is the least efficient metric by which to evaluate productive change; tradition is the worst reason.
Just give me one example where tradition is not the worst reason for doing anything (I know you did already but I am convinced tradition is still a worse reason that sadistic pleasure, both as a valid justification and in terms of net-negative suffering outcomes).
A ‘good reason’ is a useless illusion if it doesn’t lead to good outcomes.
A good reason is not something that follows the form A->B.
Last I checked people don’t live in Plato’s abstract plane of perfection, but in the imperfect and chaotic reality. A ‘good reason’ is a terrible one if it leads you or me to ruin, period.
I think the problem here is you’ve assumed my usage of “good” and “bad” are referring to the net reduction / increase of suffering.
I’ve been using the term “worst” as synonymous with “least valid”. So yes, within my context, good reason implicitly follows the form A->B.
Seriously, think about it for a moment. without knowing whether the OUTCOME is good or bad, what is a good REASON?
If you found your friend bleeding out, slipping in and out of consciousness, life and death situation, and a cop chases you all the way to the hospital, do you think the cop is going to think you have a good REASON for speeding?
Tradition is the least valid reason (in terms of epistemology) for doing anything.
Tradition is the lowest common denominator, and relying on our collective filter for social evolution is the least efficient metric by which to evaluate productive change; tradition is the worst reason.
Just give me one example where tradition is not the worst reason for doing anything (I know you did already but I am convinced tradition is still a worse reason that sadistic pleasure, both as a valid justification and in terms of net-negative suffering outcomes).
“Because I can”
I’m not convinced this is a valid reason. It’s really just another way of saying “because I want to”, which is still a better than tradition.
Subjective. I think it is way worse. Or “to see the world burn”, “to make humanity extinct”.
Be it a moral or technical angle, there is many worse than “because our ancestors did it this way and we still came about”.
As another commenter replied to you, you’re conflating bad outcomes with good reasons.
“To watch the world burn” is still a better reason, even if the outcome is the same, or worse.
A ‘good reason’ is a useless illusion if it doesn’t lead to good outcomes.
A good reason is not something that follows the form A->B.
Last I checked people don’t live in Plato’s abstract plane of perfection, but in the imperfect and chaotic reality. A ‘good reason’ is a terrible one if it leads you or me to ruin, period.
I think the problem here is you’ve assumed my usage of “good” and “bad” are referring to the net reduction / increase of suffering.
I’ve been using the term “worst” as synonymous with “least valid”. So yes, within my context, good reason implicitly follows the form A->B.
Seriously, think about it for a moment. without knowing whether the OUTCOME is good or bad, what is a good REASON?
If you found your friend bleeding out, slipping in and out of consciousness, life and death situation, and a cop chases you all the way to the hospital, do you think the cop is going to think you have a good REASON for speeding?
Tradition is the least valid reason (in terms of epistemology) for doing anything.
Saying “because” is just straight up invalid.
alternatively: