this post was submitted on 15 Dec 2023
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[–] NAK@lemmy.world 1 points 11 months ago (1 children)

I fully believe a benevolent dictator has more capacity to be ethical than even the strongest democracy.

And it's ridiculous to argue otherwise.

In reductive terms, there is ultimately the best decision. The thing that is the best. Humans, by definition, have varying capacity, and varying experience. I can say, unequivocally, that younger me was an idiot. And the decisions I make now are much better than the decisions I made when I was younger.

In a democracy you're optimizing for the most acceptance of outcome. People of varying capacities and varying world views will argue their opinions, and results will be the closest to the middle ground that most people can live with.

So yes. If you're maximizing for ethics a single person can do that.

[–] Cowbee@lemm.ee 1 points 11 months ago (1 children)

See, I can't agree with anything you say if you believe ends justify all means. It's pure Utopianism, and therefore can't be considered meaningful.

[–] NAK@lemmy.world 1 points 11 months ago (1 children)

I guess I'm not following your thesis then. Can you say, simply, what you believe ethics are. And why democracies are inherently more ethical

[–] Cowbee@lemm.ee 1 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Hierarchy without democratic consent and exploitation are both unethical. Simple as.

[–] NAK@lemmy.world 1 points 11 months ago (1 children)

What about something like the Salem witch trials.

Everyone agreed they were witches.

There is no such thing as a witch

[–] Cowbee@lemm.ee 1 points 11 months ago

Democratic actions aren't ethical by themselves. If the Salem witch trials were dictatorlially held by 1 dude, is your argument that it is somehow more ethical?

An action must be democratically accountable and ethical, you need both to actually be ethical.

Are you legitimately anti-democracy?