Posted: Aug 23, 2015 12:29 am
I think there is a spectrum of behaviours that only on reflection turn into principles.
Many experiments show pre verbal kids helpful....ie if you drop something they pick it up and hand it back.
Much of this is innate to our primate genetics - some will be greedy and survive, some will be generous and the tribe will survive....some will be generous in a lost cause and no one will survive....
I think you can only claim principles once your own behaviour is subject to self analysis and compared to others. I think society provides input to that but despite trying, does not determine it. ( FAS kids are a fascinating and sad example ).
Rigid displine, school, military will try and establish a set of principles for a successful member of that group but some will not accept this and get drummed out, others will find it coincides with their worldview and embrace it.
In both cases I think slef reflection is necessary before you can claim principled behaviour. Not going to war, going to war....both principled.
Most I think experience this as they diverge from parental insistence or guidance and establish their own patterns of behaviour sometimes quite divergent from the parents and/or the peer group.
Later in school as we are exposed to the wider world and methods of thought /action that appeal or disgust .....we start that reflective process.....navel gazing.
I'm just part way through John Adams ...if ever a man of principle he was as was his amazing wife. Through out their lives they analysed themselves and others actively and kept to their New England bred principles even as president, thrift, action on behalf of others and honorable behaviour.
Despite his incredible success as a major player in the founding of America and it's ongoing survival....he remained self critical and full of doubt.
To be principled, I think you have to think about it and be tested........seems the abstinence before marriage crowd doens't quite cut it
They may have thought about it....but when the heat of passion is on ..principles are lost.
••••
I concur that all apparently selfless acts are chosen and so fulfill the desire of the one making the sacrifice.
There will be a spectrum of humans, some will willingly risk death or injury for others, others will not.
I'm not sure that it's so much principle as nature. There is rarely time to reflect - some act - some don't.
( those guys on the train I don't think thought about it....they acted ).
Is that principle....don't think so. Reinforcement of that action through their training may have a play but no matter what the training, some will act quickly without thought and others will hang back.
One reason I admire firemen, I do think they are highly principled in risking themselves for others and cannot help but be reflective on it.
Many experiments show pre verbal kids helpful....ie if you drop something they pick it up and hand it back.
Much of this is innate to our primate genetics - some will be greedy and survive, some will be generous and the tribe will survive....some will be generous in a lost cause and no one will survive....
I think you can only claim principles once your own behaviour is subject to self analysis and compared to others. I think society provides input to that but despite trying, does not determine it. ( FAS kids are a fascinating and sad example ).
Rigid displine, school, military will try and establish a set of principles for a successful member of that group but some will not accept this and get drummed out, others will find it coincides with their worldview and embrace it.
In both cases I think slef reflection is necessary before you can claim principled behaviour. Not going to war, going to war....both principled.
Most I think experience this as they diverge from parental insistence or guidance and establish their own patterns of behaviour sometimes quite divergent from the parents and/or the peer group.
Later in school as we are exposed to the wider world and methods of thought /action that appeal or disgust .....we start that reflective process.....navel gazing.
I'm just part way through John Adams ...if ever a man of principle he was as was his amazing wife. Through out their lives they analysed themselves and others actively and kept to their New England bred principles even as president, thrift, action on behalf of others and honorable behaviour.
Despite his incredible success as a major player in the founding of America and it's ongoing survival....he remained self critical and full of doubt.
To be principled, I think you have to think about it and be tested........seems the abstinence before marriage crowd doens't quite cut it
They may have thought about it....but when the heat of passion is on ..principles are lost.
••••
And I'd say this is true for just about everyone, just like I'd say it's true for everyone (and related) that everything they do they do for their own benefit, even when it looks like it's for someone else's benefit.
I concur that all apparently selfless acts are chosen and so fulfill the desire of the one making the sacrifice.
There will be a spectrum of humans, some will willingly risk death or injury for others, others will not.
I'm not sure that it's so much principle as nature. There is rarely time to reflect - some act - some don't.
( those guys on the train I don't think thought about it....they acted ).
Is that principle....don't think so. Reinforcement of that action through their training may have a play but no matter what the training, some will act quickly without thought and others will hang back.
One reason I admire firemen, I do think they are highly principled in risking themselves for others and cannot help but be reflective on it.