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I think this is a huge oversimplification. Just as intelligence can be either effective or ineffective or even destructive, so can love or emotionalism. We can

by api 2y ago

I think this is a huge oversimplification. Just as intelligence can be either effective or ineffective or even destructive, so can love or emotionalism. We can do things in the name of love or compassion that are actually harmful. A classic example would be cultural traditionalism trying to hold onto some kind of authenticity but really just creating tyranny and repression, or attempts to rein in the worst parts of capitalism that backfire and impoverish people. Meanwhile the coldest reason can deliver a lot of compassion. The Haber process for cracking atmospheric nitrogen probably saved more lives than all the saints in history.

sixo 2y ago
This could be expressed as "the devil is <anything> without love". The <anything> was a tool for doing good, or a heuristic approximation to Good, or a necessary defense against harm, but it becomes demonic when it is mistaken for Good itself. (Or "God", if you prefer—evil is idolatry.)
- api 2y ago
  Maybe the devil is either intelligence without love or love without intelligence. The latter can do just as much harm.
  - sixo 2y ago
    Yeah, I tend to think conversations about evil elide the distinction between two kinds of "harm". The first is like pride or the devil or idolatry, the second like "material harm". The purpose of intelligence is to predict the future and solve problems, of course, so too little of it leads to preventable mistakes. The two are related: love can direct the intelligence towards noble ends and guard against its overreach. But intelligence is needed to prevent an overreach of love and trust that would lead to loss and grief.
metabagel 2y ago
OK, so there is a balance, but the article posits that we are currently unbalanced in how much more we value intelligence over kindness.
- pmzy 2y ago
  yes, that. And how we often mess up the order; ethics should come first. I'd pin this comment if I could :)

by api 2y ago

sixo 2y ago

This could be expressed as "the devil is <anything> without love". The <anything> was a tool for doing good, or a heuristic approximation to Good, or a necessary defense against harm, but it becomes demonic when it is mistaken for Good itself. (Or "God", if you prefer—evil is idolatry.)

api 2y ago
Maybe the devil is either intelligence without love or love without intelligence. The latter can do just as much harm.
- sixo 2y ago
  Yeah, I tend to think conversations about evil elide the distinction between two kinds of "harm". The first is like pride or the devil or idolatry, the second like "material harm". The purpose of intelligence is to predict the future and solve problems, of course, so too little of it leads to preventable mistakes. The two are related: love can direct the intelligence towards noble ends and guard against its overreach. But intelligence is needed to prevent an overreach of love and trust that would lead to loss and grief.

metabagel 2y ago

OK, so there is a balance, but the article posits that we are currently unbalanced in how much more we value intelligence over kindness.

pmzy 2y ago
yes, that. And how we often mess up the order; ethics should come first. I'd pin this comment if I could :)