Ideas from 'The Human Condition' by John Kekes [2010], by Theme Structure
[found in 'The Human Condition' by Kekes,John [OUP 2010,978-0-19-958888-6]].
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10. Modality / B. Possibility / 7. Chance
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20146
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'Luck' is the unpredictable and inexplicable intersection of causal chains
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20. Action / B. Preliminaries of Action / 1. Intention to Act / a. Nature of intentions
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20169
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An action may be intended under one description, but not under another
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20. Action / C. Motives for Action / 2. Acting on Beliefs / a. Acting on beliefs
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20149
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To control our actions better, make them result from our attitudes, not from circumstances
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22. Metaethics / A. Ethics Foundations / 1. Nature of Ethics / c. Purpose of ethics
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19738
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Values are an attempt to achieve well-being by bringing contingencies under control
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20145
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Values help us to control life, by connecting it to what is stable and manageable
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22. Metaethics / A. Ethics Foundations / 1. Nature of Ethics / g. Moral responsibility
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20170
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Responsibility is unprovoked foreseeable harm, against society, arising from vicious character
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22. Metaethics / A. Ethics Foundations / 2. Source of Ethics / b. Rational ethics
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20165
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Reason and morality do not coincide; immorality can be reasonable, with an ideology
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20171
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Practical reason is not universal and impersonal, because it depends on what success is
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20175
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If morality has to be rational, then moral conflicts need us to be irrational and immoral
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22. Metaethics / A. Ethics Foundations / 2. Source of Ethics / j. Ethics by convention
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20174
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Relativists say all values are relative; pluralists concede much of that, but not 'human' values
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22. Metaethics / B. Value / 1. Nature of Value / a. Nature of value
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20156
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We are bound to regret some values we never aspired to
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20150
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There are far more values than we can pursue, so they are optional possibilities
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20158
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Innumerable values arise for us, from our humanity, our culture, and our individuality
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20159
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Cultural values are interpretations of humanity, conduct, institutions, and evaluations
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20161
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The big value problems are evil (humanity), disenchantment (cultures), and boredom (individuals)
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22. Metaethics / B. Value / 1. Nature of Value / f. Ultimate value
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20151
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Our attitudes include what possibilities we value, and also what is allowable, and unthinkable
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20152
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Unconditional commitments are our most basic convictions, saying what must never be done
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20153
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Doing the unthinkable damages ourselves, so it is more basic than any value
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22. Metaethics / B. Value / 2. Values / j. Evil
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20162
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Evil isn't explained by nature, by monsters, by uncharacteristic actions, or by society
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22. Metaethics / C. The Good / 2. Happiness / d. Routes to happiness
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20154
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Control is the key to well-being
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20157
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Well-being needs correct attitudes and well-ordered commitments to local values
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23. Ethics / F. Existentialism / 4. Boredom
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20172
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Boredom destroys our ability to evaluate
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20173
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Boredom is apathy and restlessness, yearning for something interesting
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24. Political Theory / A. Basis of a State / 1. A People / c. A unified people
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20155
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Society is alienating if it lacks our values, and its values repel us
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24. Political Theory / B. Nature of a State / 1. Purpose of a State
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20164
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The ideal of an ideology is embodied in a text, a role model, a law of history, a dream of the past...
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20163
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Ideologies have beliefs about reality, ideals, a gap with actuality, and a program
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25. Social Practice / B. Equalities / 4. Economic equality
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20148
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Equal distribution is no good in a shortage, because there might be no one satisfied
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