Well, I think my mistake was to use the word “consequentialism” as if referring to the ethical theory. All I mean by consequentialism is thinking in terms of consequences, and having feelings about them. So, drawn by feelings to save one’s spouse, that’s very different than calculating the altruistic ideal of maximum benefit through the consequences of one’s actions.
I’m not sure that concern about conscious effort toward thinking or overthinking is really moral schizophrenia. If you mean it’s preferable to engage one’s feelings or acting through instinct in ways that you identify as demonstrating character traits, well, I get it, but it’s … just about how the conscious mind should or should not work, or how the unconscious (system 1) should or should not work, and those are tricky things to navigate in the first place. I would settle for just doing the right thing, as I see it, whether that reflects an ethical system or not, or happens with sureness and swiftness or not, not because it shows virtue, but because, that means I didn’t freeze up when I was supposed to be a hero.
People in tense situations freeze up, or talk to themselves, or think thoughts that feel disociated, and labeling that is less helpful than simply noting whether they were able to react in time to prevent a disaster, ie, saving someone’s life. If they could, kudos. If they couldn’t, how to help them do better next time? Sometimes being heroic or brave or loyal or whatever takes practice and some reassurance rather than judgment. Not all the time, though.
Well, I think my mistake was to use the word “consequentialism” as if referring to the ethical theory. All I mean by consequentialism is thinking in terms of consequences, and having feelings about them. So, drawn by feelings to save one’s spouse, that’s very different than calculating the altruistic ideal of maximum benefit through the consequences of one’s actions.
I’m not sure that concern about conscious effort toward thinking or overthinking is really moral schizophrenia. If you mean it’s preferable to engage one’s feelings or acting through instinct in ways that you identify as demonstrating character traits, well, I get it, but it’s … just about how the conscious mind should or should not work, or how the unconscious (system 1) should or should not work, and those are tricky things to navigate in the first place. I would settle for just doing the right thing, as I see it, whether that reflects an ethical system or not, or happens with sureness and swiftness or not, not because it shows virtue, but because, that means I didn’t freeze up when I was supposed to be a hero.
People in tense situations freeze up, or talk to themselves, or think thoughts that feel disociated, and labeling that is less helpful than simply noting whether they were able to react in time to prevent a disaster, ie, saving someone’s life. If they could, kudos. If they couldn’t, how to help them do better next time? Sometimes being heroic or brave or loyal or whatever takes practice and some reassurance rather than judgment. Not all the time, though.