“motive utilitarianism” is a pretty good theory of ethics.

[Multicolored Lemur]

America no longer has enough middle-class jobs.

The traditional approach is to focus on fairness. Hey, maybe if we got just the right dose of affirmative action, and not just on race. Maybe if the HR “Human Resource” Department wasn’t such a bottleneck, etc, etc.

The utilitarian approach is, Hey, maybe we just need more good jobs even if we only get a B+ on fairness.

 

[Multicolored Lemur]

The State of the American Middle Class

As the financial divide has grown, a smaller share of Americans now live in middle-class households. Here are key facts about this group.

www.pewresearch.org

How the American middle class has changed in the past five decades

The share of adults who live in middle-class households fell from 61% in 1971 to 50% in 2021, according to a new analysis.

www.pewresearch.org

PS I can’t get the bar graph to post to save my life!

The American middle class is stable in size, but losing ground financially to upper-income families

Rubén Weinsteiner/Comunicación Política y Corporativa/ #votojoven marca politica

www.marcapolitica.com

Phenomenal!


Even though the data is a little different between pew Research pages.

If even approximately correct, it means maybe the American middle class hasn’t declined as much as many people think. And maybe this is an eminently winnable situation.

Now, this is just one source of info. And if people’s lives experience is different that in itself is an interesting question.

 

[Scooter]

I’ve done a fair number of threads in this very section of parts of the Bible which seem doubtful or questionable to me. Here, I’d like to keep the discussion more on this theory of philosophy.

I understand. However, this thread is posted under the Christian link instead of the philosophy title. And you posted inaccuracies about the Bible. If you ever want to discuss parts of the Bible you’re unsure of, I’ll be glad to share my beliefs.

 

[Multicolored Lemur]

And you posted inaccuracies about the Bible.

You see, I don’t think I did. It sure looks like the Bible is saying a woman is required to marry her rapist. You’re saying there’s this escape hatch. And I’m saying I’m not so sure.

 

[Multicolored Lemur]

Simply because God allows things to prosper does not indicate He supports them.

separate issue —

You said this in response to plural marriage as well as servants having babies.

Leah and Rachel | Children's Sermons from Sermons4Kids.com

Use the Leah and Rachel Coloring Page as a fun activity for your next children's sermon.

sermons4kids.com

And look at how this Christian site is seemingly going to promote this as a good wholesome story.

—————

Even if Zilpah is not a slave but a servant. Even if indentured servitude back then is pretty much the equivalent of employment, with the servant having rights and norms,

why is Zilpah having not one but two children for her employer, when her mistress Leah had already had 6 named male children, plus Dinah. Plus most probably other unnamed daughters as well.

Why doesn’t Zilpah have her own husband and her own family as well. Maybe a man she met in the local Synagogue? Or, maybe a man who works for another master in the area.

A 100 plus years ago, the English servants had spouses and families. For example, see the TV show and movie “Downton Abbey.” They did not have children by their masters. I’m sure it happened, but it wasn’t accepted as A Okay. The master was viewed as an unethical and unprincipled man.

——————

You’re saying God doesn’t support, but since God makes the 12 sons the 12 tribes, it sure looks like he supports it.

And much too exact a number. Almost like a table with a magic, precise number.

 

[Scooter]

I thought you wanted this thread to focus on philosophy rather than theology.

 

[Multicolored Lemur]

I thought you wanted this thread to focus on philosophy

I can do both. Especially if you throw something at me like saying I “posted inaccuracies” about the Bible.

 

[Multicolored Lemur]

Philosopher Derek Parfit was talking about population size. He talked about a newspaper article about the teen pregnancy rate coming down. But then a man wrote in basically saying, Hey, Hey, Hey, I had a teen mother and I’ve had a pretty good life.

and I combine that with this —

And mulling it over, it moved me from being a small population person, I think like most Americans are, to being a “Big Population” person.

Among other things, Derek said the man who wrote into the newspaper would waive his right to a perfect family, or a family past a certain income threshold, would waive that “right” just to exist.

 

[Multicolored Lemur]

Twice as long – life expectancy around the world

Life expectancy has doubled over the last two centuries around the world. How has this happened?

ourworldindata.org

We’re primarily interested in fairness at any particular point in time. We probably should be interested in both this and improvement over time.

 

[Scooter]

Especially if you throw something at me like saying I “posted inaccuracies” about the Bible.

Well, you did but that’s ok, I showed you the proper interpretation.