On morality, ethics, pragmatics, aesthetics, and existentialism

I tried to come up with the narrowest possible subject line for this post about mistakes, but it does cover quite a range.

Although we do casually use "wrong" in a pragmatic sense such as "making a wrong turn" on a trip, or "giving the wrong answer" on a test, and technically this is a proper usage, my own understanding has been that "wrong" as in "right and wrong" is primarily an issue of morality. We can speak of a "wrong turn in life", as an error in judgment which has led to moral issues. I think of mistakes and errors in a hierarchy of philosophical levels:

1. Wrong - morality, at a moral level, all about principle
2. Improper - ethics, an ethical lapse, or issue of legality (illegal, irregardless of whether it is morally right or wrong)
3. Incorrect - pragmatics, a "technical" mistake (including an invalid scientific theory) which has practical implications, but not in a moral or ethical sense
4. Undesirable - aesthetics, not really a practical problem per se, but a cause for unpleasantness or embarrassment or social stigma (even if it might be technically correct or legal or "right")
5. Dangerous - existentialism, leads to a threat to survival or risk of significant imminent physical harm

My point is that we can interpret mistakes or "wrong" at any or all of these levels and should be clear when we speak as to which we are talking about.

This is a casual model on my part. There could be other categories or the categories could be divided differently. In other words, I could be wrong, in a category 3 or 4 sense. I reserve the right to "revise and extend" my model later in the discussion.

Drinking, especially by underage adults and teens can quickly lead to category 5 "mistakes", such as the young woman who died in a fall from a high-rise apartment after an evening of "clubbing." Drunk driving, mistakes by aircraft pilots and vehicle  drivers, and medical errors can also result in category 5 mistakes.

BTW, my hunch is that the "shame" referenced by Kathryn Schulz in her book Being Wrong would be for my category 3 and 4 mistakes which is pragmatic or aesthetic, not an ethical, moral, or existential problem, but quite unpleasant and embarrassing.

See:

Being Wrong: Adventures in the Margin of Error by Kathryn Schulz
Stuart Jeffries is cheered by a writer who sees a social value in our habit of mucking things up
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/aug/28/being-wrong-kathryn-schulz-review

and

http://www.slate.com/blogs/blogs/thewrongstuff/archive/2010/06/07/on-air-and-on-error-this-american-life-s-ira-glass-on-being-wrong.aspx

and

Slate posts by Kathryn Schulz
http://www.slate.com/blogs/search/searchresults.aspx?u=2434

-- Jack Krupansky

Cafe Philo in New York City in two weeks, Thursday, 9/9: The value of being wrong?

Cafe Philo in New York City will meet in two weeks, Thursday, September 9, 2010 with a discussion on the topic of "The value of being wrong?" Ron Gross suggested the topic and provided this description:

To err is human. Yet most of us go through life tacitly assuming (and sometimes noisily insisting) that we are right about nearly everything, from the origins of the universe to how to load the dishwasher. If being wrong is so natural, why are we all so bad at imagining that our beliefs could be mistaken -- and why do we typically react to our errors with surprise, denial, defensiveness and shame?

Why do  we find it so gratifying to be right and so maddening to be mistaken, and how does this attitude toward error effect  our relationships -- whether between family members, colleagues, neighbors, or nations?

In her recently-published and widely acclaimed book BEING WRONG, Kathryn Schulz  takes us on a fascinating tour of human fallibility (the gist of her book is available on her entertaining website, www.beingwrongbook.com, which also features  confessions about being wrong from renowned folks from every field, from Google's Peter Norvig to maverick food critic Anthony Bourdain).  Of course you can obtain other "takes" on her book by Googling "Being Wrong".

The suggested topics for the upcoming meeting and their votes:

1. Is truth dead? (2) (My suggestion)
2. Why is business so evil? (2) (My suggestion)
3. The value of being wrong (5) *
4. Do we really need borders? (4)
5. How the Internet can change our ways of thinking and living (4)
6. Can selfishness be moral? (3)
7. Can dictatorship do more good for the community can democracy? (4)

I have been acting as guest moderator lately. Bernard Roy has been attending this year as a participant, but is spending the summer in France, as usual.

Catch up with preparatory online discussions in the Yahoo! group for Cafe Philo NYC.

As usual, the meeting will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the back room at Bamiyan Afghan Restaurant at the northwest corner of Third Avenue and 26th Street in New York City. In exchange for free meeting space, it is expected that each attendee will purchase a minimum of $5 of food or drink. A glass of red wine can be had for $6 (plus tax and tip.)

After winding down our discussion, we entertain and vote on proposals for the topic question for the next meeting.

There are also usually some attendees who go across the street to McCormack's Pub for drinks and food and extended discussion after Cafe Philo, but not limited to the scheduled discussion topic.

There are a number of small groups in the U.S. and Europe who meet regularly to discuss topics related to philosophy. Some of these groups go by the name "Cafe Philo." There is one here in New York City that meets every two weeks, every other Thursday. It is organized and moderated by Bernard Roy, Associate Professor of Philosophy at Ramapo College of New Jersey. Each meeting focuses on a specific topic which was suggested and voted on by the participants at the last meeting.

Also, there is an online discussion forum for the NYC Cafe Philo at:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/

There is also a new web site for NYC Cafe Philo:  www.nycafephilo.org.

I have been attending the NYC Cafe Philo off and on since 2004. Previously I had attended the Cafe Philo in Washington, D.C. starting in 2001.

-- Jack Krupansky

Cafe Philo in New York City this week, Thursday, 8/26: Can a politician have integrity?

Cafe Philo in New York City will meet this week on Thursday, August 26, 2010 with a discussion on the topic of "Can a politician have integrity?"

I have been acting as guest moderator lately. Bernard Roy has been attending this year as a participant, but is spending the summer in France, as usual.

Catch up with preparatory online discussions in the Yahoo! group for Cafe Philo NYC.

As usual, the meeting will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the back room at Bamiyan Afghan Restaurant at the northwest corner of Third Avenue and 26th Street in New York City. In exchange for free meeting space, it is expected that each attendee will purchase a minimum of $5 of food or drink. A glass of red wine can be had for $6 (plus tax and tip.)

After winding down our discussion, we entertain and vote on proposals for the topic question for the next meeting.

There is also usually some number of attendees who go across the street to McCormack's Bar for drinks and food and extended discussion after Cafe Philo, but not limited to the scheduled discussion topic.

There are a number of small groups in the U.S. and Europe who meet regularly to discuss topics related to philosophy. Some of these groups go by the name "Cafe Philo." There is one here in New York City that meets every two weeks, every other Thursday. It is organized and moderated by Bernard Roy, Associate Professor of Philosophy at Ramapo College of New Jersey. Each meeting focuses on a specific topic which was suggested and voted on by the participants at the last meeting.

Also, there is an online discussion forum for the NYC Cafe Philo at:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/

There is also a new web site for NYC Cafe Philo:  www.nycafephilo.org.

I have been attending the NYC Cafe Philo off and on since 2004. Previously I had attended the Cafe Philo in Washington, D.C. starting in 2001.

-- Jack Krupansky

Northwest Passage finally open

I may be mistaken, but my reading of the latest imagery from the Arctic Sea Ice News & Analysis from the National Snow and Ice Data Center indicates that the Northwest Passage is finally open and clear of sea ice, just a few weeks before these Arctic waters will begin freezing up again. The passage opened on August 21, 2007, which was the record low year for Arctic sea ice extent, and again on August 25, 2008, but was not open in 2009 (to the best of my knowledge.)

-- Jack Krupansky

Cafe Philo in New York City in two weeks, Thursday, 8/26: Can a politician have integrity?

Cafe Philo in New York City will meet in two weeks, Thursday, August 26, 2010 with a discussion on the topic of "Can a politician have integrity?"

The suggested topics for the upcoming meeting and their votes:

1. Why did communism fail in Russia? (1)
2. Why is business so evil? (5) (My suggestion)
3. Libertarianism vs. community (5)
4. Can a politician have integrity? (6)
5. Why is American football (as opposed to soccer) our national sport? (2)
6. Is truth dead? (5) (My suggestion)
7. Limitation of science (4)
8. Do we need borders? (4)
9. What's up with dog people? (2)

I have been acting as guest moderator lately. Bernard Roy has been attending this year as a participant, but is spending the summer in France, as usual.

Catch up with preparatory online discussions in the Yahoo! group for Cafe Philo NYC.

As usual, the meeting will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the back room at Bamiyan Afghan Restaurant at the northwest corner of Third Avenue and 26th Street in New York City. In exchange for free meeting space, it is expected that each attendee will purchase a minimum of $5 of food or drink. A glass of red wine can be had for $6 (plus tax and tip.)

After winding down our discussion, we entertain and vote on proposals for the topic question for the next meeting.

There is also usually some number of attendees who go across the street to McCormack's Bar for drinks and food and extended discussion after Cafe Philo, but not limited to the scheduled discussion topic.

There are a number of small groups in the U.S. and Europe who meet regularly to discuss topics related to philosophy. Some of these groups go by the name "Cafe Philo." There is one here in New York City that meets every two weeks, every other Thursday. It is organized and moderated by Bernard Roy, Associate Professor of Philosophy at Ramapo College of New Jersey. Each meeting focuses on a specific topic which was suggested and voted on by the participants at the last meeting.

Also, there is an online discussion forum for the NYC Cafe Philo at:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/

There is also a new web site for NYC Cafe Philo:  www.nycafephilo.org.

I have been attending the NYC Cafe Philo off and on since 2004. Previously I had attended the Cafe Philo in Washington, D.C. starting in 2001.

-- Jack Krupansky

A cat named Jack

Finally a news story that is not depressing:

Blind cat, reported missing from San Francisco shelter, found alive and well in Harlem

A nearly blind black cat who hails from San Francisco may not have nine lives, but he does have several guardian angels looking after him.

The cat's name is Jack.

-- Jack Krupansky

Soak the very, very rich

I think James Surowiecki has the right idea in his New Yorker piece entitled "Soak the Very, Very Rich." We should focus tax hikes a little more carefully so that it is the "very, very rich" who get "soaked". Leave the "small business owners" alone. To make the point more clearly, LeBron James and LeBron James's dentist shouldn't be paying the same tax rate.

-- Jack Krupansky

God's will?

I just saw this CNN headline from a few weeks ago:

Pastor Rick Warren hospitalized after eyes burned

The story says:

Megachurch pastor Rick Warren is home recovering after his eyes were burned as he pruned a firestick plant in his yard, his spokesman told CNN Thursday.

Hmmm... might this have been "God's will"?

These days you never know

-- Jack Krupansky

Cafe Philo in New York City this week, Thursday, 8/12: Is life a mistake?

Cafe Philo in New York City will meet this week, Thursday, August 12, 2010 with a discussion on the topic of "Is life a mistake?"

I have been acting as guest moderator lately. Bernard Roy has been attending this year as a participant, but is spending the summer in France, as usual.

Catch up with preparatory online discussions in the Yahoo! group for Cafe Philo NYC.

As usual, the meeting will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the back room at Bamiyan Afghan Restaurant at the northwest corner of Third Avenue and 26th Street in New York City. In exchange for free meeting space, it is expected that each attendee will purchase a minimum of $5 of food or drink. A glass of red wine can be had for $6 (plus tax and tip.)

After winding down our discussion, we entertain and vote on proposals for the topic question for the next meeting.

There is also usually some number of attendees who go across the street to McCormack's Bar for drinks and food and extended discussion after Cafe Philo, but not limited to the scheduled discussion topic.

There are a number of small groups in the U.S. and Europe who meet regularly to discuss topics related to philosophy. Some of these groups go by the name "Cafe Philo." There is one here in New York City that meets every two weeks, every other Thursday. It is organized and moderated by Bernard Roy, Associate Professor of Philosophy at Ramapo College of New Jersey. Each meeting focuses on a specific topic which was suggested and voted on by the participants at the last meeting.

Also, there is an online discussion forum for the NYC Cafe Philo at:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/

There is also a new web site for NYC Cafe Philo:  www.nycafephilo.org.

I have been attending the NYC Cafe Philo off and on since 2004. Previously I had attended the Cafe Philo in Washington, D.C. starting in 2001.

-- Jack Krupansky