“We use and need to use both systems in complex political societies, and we oscillate in our commitments, because both oligarchy and rule by the will of masses have their bad points, as the ancient philosophers all knew.” NeedsUsePoliticalMassCommitmentComplexesAncientPhilosopherOligarchy Author:Catherine Wilson
“Morality has in the past made progress when we broadened the category of things we weren't permitted to harm (animals, 'infidels'); saw through some delusions and rationalisations about what harms are good for people themselves (prison punishment, hysterectomies for unhappy 1950s wives); and readjusted our for-the-good of others criteria so as to demand only reasonable sacrifices (ceasing to use children as handy chimney sweeps).” PeopleChildrenMadeUsePastAnimalSawsWifeProgressSacrificeMoralityDemandPrisonHarmPunishmentUnhappyReasonableDelusionCategoriesCriteriaHandyInfidelChimneysHysterectomyChimney Sweeps Author:Catherine Wilson
“Even if you just want to make a simple clothing item for yourself or go for a long hike in the forest - something we imagine requires absolutely no resources - you have to go to the store and buy a lot of stuff, and probably use a car.” IfsWantLongUseStuffSimpleImagineCarResourcesStoresForestsClothingsItems Author:Catherine Wilson
“Highly unequal societies are morally defective because they get to be that way through the exploitation by the clever and well-positioned ones of the vulnerabilities and weaknesses of others. The well-off then use their acquired political power to refuse to make sacrifices for others. This system brings us a wonderful range of products and experiences for consumers at the top of the privilege scale, but it also degrades and benumbs the workers at the lower end, as Adam Smith and Marx both said.” WayWellsSaidEndsUsePoliticalWonderfulSacrificeProductsWeaknessWorkersPrivilegeRefuseScalesCleverConsumersRangeVulnerabilityAdamExploitationPolitical PowerDegradeSacrifice For OthersDefective Author:Catherine Wilson
“Gentlemanly, principled, helpful behaviour by older men vis-a-vis young women goes unnoticed, but it deserves real moral credit, and we could use more first-person testimony from the beneficiaries and practitioners about that too.” MenFirstsPersonsRealUseYoungMoralDeserveCreditHelpfulBehaviourYoung WomenTestimonyFirst PersonUnnoticedPrincipledBeneficiariesOlder ManGentlemanly Author:Catherine Wilson