3 ms·

As a corollary to the idea of taste, I've noticed that the most interesting people tend to have very definite tastes and views of the world. Moral relativism an

by Bakary 6y ago

As a corollary to the idea of taste, I've noticed that the most interesting people tend to have very definite tastes and views of the world. Moral relativism and its associated themes are generally not only a dead end but also an illusion since they imply aesthetic and moral choices in and of themselves.

ska 6y ago
I think a thing you have to be careful of here is that “taste” does not imply a single optimal solution. It’s entirely possible to have very definite tastes and views while acknowledging there are other equally valid viewpoints that doesn’t mesh well with yours. For example I may love and have a highly developed taste for “western” style classical music and have little appreciation for microtonal Indian classical music without believing it is somehow inferior, yet at the same time believe that not all music is equally good. This isn’t exactly the same as moral relativism that you call out but related.
- Bakary 6y ago
  In each case, you don't interact with or think about Indian classical music or whichever music you don't see as equally good. The only difference between the two is a vague, undefined abstract hierarchy that has no effect on behavior. In other words, a trivial, almost infinitesimal difference. In the end, the actual choice and action to pursue certain things is a far more definite statement as to what a person actually values and respects.
  - ska 6y ago
    Not so - you can respect something without dedicating your own time to it; you have to really - there isn't enough time for everything. In subjective areas where we rely on a sense of "taste" , this multiplicity is often inherent. Preference is much easier to map to your actions, but does not imply you think it's the only way. To go back to the analogy, I can think the other form is equally interesting, but realize I haven't spent enough time on it to really differentiate things at the level I can with my preferred form. There is no question where my preference lies, but that does not imply I think it's a superior form. Presumably if I thought it was an inferior form, I might change preference.

by Bakary 6y ago

ska 6y ago

I think a thing you have to be careful of here is that “taste” does not imply a single optimal solution. It’s entirely possible to have very definite tastes and views while acknowledging there are other equally valid viewpoints that doesn’t mesh well with yours. For example I may love and have a highly developed taste for “western” style classical music and have little appreciation for microtonal Indian classical music without believing it is somehow inferior, yet at the same time believe that not all music is equally good. This isn’t exactly the same as moral relativism that you call out but related.

Bakary 6y ago
In each case, you don't interact with or think about Indian classical music or whichever music you don't see as equally good. The only difference between the two is a vague, undefined abstract hierarchy that has no effect on behavior. In other words, a trivial, almost infinitesimal difference. In the end, the actual choice and action to pursue certain things is a far more definite statement as to what a person actually values and respects.
- ska 6y ago
  Not so - you can respect something without dedicating your own time to it; you have to really - there isn't enough time for everything. In subjective areas where we rely on a sense of "taste" , this multiplicity is often inherent. Preference is much easier to map to your actions, but does not imply you think it's the only way. To go back to the analogy, I can think the other form is equally interesting, but realize I haven't spent enough time on it to really differentiate things at the level I can with my preferred form. There is no question where my preference lies, but that does not imply I think it's a superior form. Presumably if I thought it was an inferior form, I might change preference.