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Religion

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marylandblue

(12,344 posts)
Mon Sep 3, 2018, 03:37 PM Sep 2018

The myth of moral equivalence [View all]

There can be perverse attempts to "contextualize" human failings by decontextualizing. One version of this goes like this.
-People commit crimes.
-Institutions cover up criminal behavior.
-Therefore all people who commit crimes and all institutions who cover up crimes are all morally equivalent.

To demonstrate the fallacy of this. I will compare two theoretical Catholic Diocese on opposite ends of an extremes.

In Diocese A, there is a network of janitors who steal cleaning supplies and sell them on Ebay. About 5% of the janitors are in this network. They assist each other in locating valuable supplies and removing them from church property. The bishop of this diocese is aware of the theft, but does nothing to stop it.

In Diocese B, there is a network of serial killer priests. About 5% of the priests are serial killers. They assist each other in locating victims, killing them and hiding the bodies. The Vatican is aware of the murders, but does nothing to stop it.

Are these two situations morally equivalent? Even though we know each component of each story happens individually, when we put them all together, do both shock the conscience equally? Do both have the same implications for the church as a whole? It's simply absurd to think they do. Yet that's what some argue.

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The myth of moral equivalence [View all] marylandblue Sep 2018 OP
And where are these attempts at excusing criminal behavior? guillaumeb Sep 2018 #1
I did not say anything was excusable or that there was any attempt at excusing behavior marylandblue Sep 2018 #2
No, it is implicitly excusing by claiming that everyone does it. guillaumeb Sep 2018 #4
I will give you the examples, but I am not sure how to take your answer marylandblue Sep 2018 #10
I agree that there are levels of evil. guillaumeb Sep 2018 #11
Except you. MineralMan Sep 2018 #12
Demonstrating only that you misunderstand the proper application of the fallacy. guillaumeb Sep 2018 #14
Again, I did not say that you engaged in tu quoque marylandblue Sep 2018 #13
I understand. guillaumeb Sep 2018 #15
Yes, but do you really think people were not aware of that? marylandblue Sep 2018 #16
I am not certain. guillaumeb Sep 2018 #19
Maybe you should ask? marylandblue Sep 2018 #20
Perhaps. eom guillaumeb Sep 2018 #21
Glad you asked. Act_of_Reparation Sep 2018 #36
We agree. eom guillaumeb Sep 2018 #40
No, we don't. Act_of_Reparation Sep 2018 #46
You are incorrect. eom guillaumeb Sep 2018 #48
How does it go... Act_of_Reparation Sep 2018 #51
Well, be certain now. trotsky Sep 2018 #31
Let's take one example, the military qazplm135 Sep 2018 #37
I have linked to many articles demonstrating how covering up sexual assault is guillaumeb Sep 2018 #42
lol qazplm135 Sep 2018 #49
I just started the book Idiot America--by Charles P. Pierce- digonswine Sep 2018 #17
You need to research what you accuse me of. guillaumeb Sep 2018 #18
I was referring to another post of yours-- digonswine Sep 2018 #22
I criticized the sexual predation, guillaumeb Sep 2018 #23
No there are other things that make the RCC stand out marylandblue Sep 2018 #24
What you are doing is pointing out that abuse and coverup has happened elsewhere, trotsky Sep 2018 #32
What you did was demonstrate that you misunderstood what I wrote, and have written. guillaumeb Sep 2018 #41
Bullshit. trotsky Sep 2018 #45
No, you are obviously intelligent, guillaumeb Sep 2018 #47
Then explain it. trotsky Sep 2018 #50
No, reread the thread. guillaumeb Sep 2018 #52
I don't see it. trotsky Sep 2018 #53
Yes. guillaumeb Sep 2018 #54
Read this again: trotsky Sep 2018 #55
Utter nonsense. guillaumeb Sep 2018 #56
Ol' one-note gil. trotsky Sep 2018 #57
Whataboutism / tu quoque Lordquinton Sep 2018 #27
And when you understand why it is used, you will see that it does not apply. guillaumeb Sep 2018 #38
Oh, my mistake Lordquinton Sep 2018 #44
Examples based on your incorrect statement? Lordquinton Sep 2018 #26
+100 MineralMan Sep 2018 #5
Feel free to point out these DU posts. guillaumeb Sep 2018 #7
.. MineralMan Sep 2018 #9
Do your own research. trotsky Sep 2018 #33
You are wrong Lordquinton Sep 2018 #25
You need to read the definition again Major Nikon Sep 2018 #29
One of us does, indeed. guillaumeb Sep 2018 #39
You have convinced your fan club Major Nikon Sep 2018 #43
Exactly. MineralMan Sep 2018 #3
Small comfort for the families of murder victims, guillaumeb Sep 2018 #6
No. That is a horrible crime, too. MineralMan Sep 2018 #8
+1. . . . nt Bernardo de La Paz Sep 2018 #28
Not to mention the entire effort is designed to distract Major Nikon Sep 2018 #30
But we aren't (religion) allowed to mention (religion) what makes the RCC (religion) trotsky Sep 2018 #34
It's the people in the pews. Iggo Sep 2018 #35
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