Eugene wrote:
> It is very interesting. I found that it is interesting that the theory
of emotions is
>used to manipulate people (e.g., customers). I wonder if there are
>theories that can't be used to manipulate other people. For example, can
be
>a theory of genuine collaboration or genuine love to be used for
>manipulation?
It would be wonderful if we could find such theories, but I'm afraid it's
the same paradox as in medicine - if it works, it has side-effects, and
in the wrong situation harms rather than helps. We can't deny the fact
that whatever else people are, we are still, in fact, moral beings who
must make moral choices. Whether knowledge can be thought of as
ethically neutral or not, in the long run no theory is malice-proof. We
have to make the choice ourselves as to how to use our knowledge - for
other people, or against them. The comforting superstition that we can
find "morally neutral" or "morally fool-proof" ways of acting/theorizing
is just that - a superstition.
As far as I can see, genuine love and collaboration have to grow out of
people and their intentions, and can't be guaranteed by any exterior
intellectual structure. We may not like to face it, but the choice is
ours.
Rachel
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