SolSeed and Utilitarianism

SolSeed and Utilitarianism The SolSeed philosophy is not utilitarian. Utilitarianism is defined as "a theory in normative ethics holding that the proper course of action is the one that maximizes utility, usually defined as maximizing happiness and reducing suffering." (Wikipedia, Utilitarianism) It is espoused as an absolutely rational theory. But, of course, it is no more rational than any other moral theory. At the base of every moral theory is a set of arbitrary choices. This is a requirement of the Münchhausen trilemma. The arbitrary choices at the base of utilitarianism are value choices about utility or value choices hidden in the definition of utility. For instance, utilitarians give a large positive value to freedom and happiness and a large negative value to suffering. These value choices are not absolute and universal although they may be held in a very general fashion throughout society. For instance, an Olympic athlete may live by the motor, "no pain; no gain!". Or they may say, "When I am truly in agony, that is when I know I am on route to Gold.". These statements clearly value fitness and winning over avoidance of suffering even to the point of giving a positive value to suffering or at least to pain. Another example is the statement, "Better Red than dead.". This statement clearly values Life above freedom. The valuation of Life over suffering might be inferred from the statement, "What does not kill us makes us stronger." The fact that all these varieties of moral valuations exist clearly shows that any particular moral value is simply an arbitrary choice. I recently encountered the value statement, "Suffering is a grace-filled opportunity to participate in the passion of Jesus Christ." A friend characterized this as a statement made by a sick and evil person. But is it so different from the athlete's statement about pain leading to Gold? It was followed by the statement, "Euthanasia selfishly steals that opportunity. " This makes clear that the author values suffering above freedom because of the perceived "utility" of suffering in achieving a connection with the divine. This is strange and arbitrary to be sure. It is even alien. But it is not evil and it is no more arbitrary than the utilitarian's valuation of happiness above suffering. In SolSeed, we have chosen to value Life above all else. We value it more than happiness, more than love, more than freedom. We do not value suffering but will gladly accept pain in the pursuit of more Life. We know that these value choices are arbitrary and do not call those who do not share them evil. We believe that the myth of pure evil is an evil myth because it warps the minds of those it infects into justifying acts that they themselves would characterize as evil. They justify these acts because it is easy to believe that any act is justified if it is done to fight pure evil.