3 ms·

It’s like saying people who study music theory don’t have to be skilled players of musical instruments. And they don’t. You can be skeptical all you want of et

It’s like saying people who study music theory don’t have to be skilled players of musical instruments. And they don’t. You can be skeptical all you want of ethics/morality as a field of academic research! I think there are some good reasons to be. That doesn’t mean the researchers are hypocritical when they sometimes act immorally (as all inevitably will on account of being humans), or that it’s ironic or whatever.

nullc 2y ago
People who study ethics are more capable of rationalizing unethical conduct as a product of their study: If you showed the same obviously unethical act to both a layperson and an ethicist and asked them, purely as a thought exercise, to present a collection of ethical justifications for what they saw the ethicist would almost certainly have an easier time doing so and would produce arguments which were more convincing (at least to ethicists) due to their familiarity with accepted frameworks. It might be reasonable to guess that as a consequence ethicists overall may have a greater capacity for unethical conduct than arbitrarily selected members of the public (controlling for other factors).
georgeecollins 2y ago
I'm not particularly skeptical of "ethics/morality as a field of academic research". I am skeptical of people who teach in a field without being particularly skilled in it. I mean a person who teaches communication without being an above average writer or speaker. A person who teaches business without experience in commerce. A person who teaches film making or video game making without a professional career. They could be good theorists, I just have had too many personal experiences with professors without much real world experience teaching me things that didn't stand up after I had professional experience.
- jessriedel 2y ago
  Again, per the music theory vs instrument playing example, “understanding ethical systems” is just not the same skill as “be a good person”.

nullc 2y ago

People who study ethics are more capable of rationalizing unethical conduct as a product of their study: If you showed the same obviously unethical act to both a layperson and an ethicist and asked them, purely as a thought exercise, to present a collection of ethical justifications for what they saw the ethicist would almost certainly have an easier time doing so and would produce arguments which were more convincing (at least to ethicists) due to their familiarity with accepted frameworks. It might be reasonable to guess that as a consequence ethicists overall may have a greater capacity for unethical conduct than arbitrarily selected members of the public (controlling for other factors).

georgeecollins 2y ago

I'm not particularly skeptical of "ethics/morality as a field of academic research". I am skeptical of people who teach in a field without being particularly skilled in it. I mean a person who teaches communication without being an above average writer or speaker. A person who teaches business without experience in commerce. A person who teaches film making or video game making without a professional career. They could be good theorists, I just have had too many personal experiences with professors without much real world experience teaching me things that didn't stand up after I had professional experience.

jessriedel 2y ago
Again, per the music theory vs instrument playing example, “understanding ethical systems” is just not the same skill as “be a good person”.