Author Topic: Morality in a foreign language  (Read 847 times)

Nearly Sane

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 64396
Morality in a foreign language
« on: September 16, 2016, 01:07:38 PM »
Find the idea that morality might change because of such things oddly compelling



http://tinyurl.com/gr7dm4z

Brownie

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3858
  • Faith evolves
Re: Morality in a foreign language
« Reply #1 on: September 16, 2016, 02:34:19 PM »
So do; I have heard people say that thinking in a different language is a process that takes time, so issues are considered for longer.

"...such judgments involve two separate and competing modes of thinking—one of these, a quick, gut-level “feeling,” and the other, careful deliberation about the greatest good for the greatest number. "

Yes but it can also have the opposite effect to the examples given in the article, i.e. an issue that has previously been viewed casually, perhaps taken with a pinch of salt, may in fact seem more serious on consideration and provoke a bit of outrage.

Interesting, thanks.
Let us profit by what every day and hour teaches us

Humph Warden Bennett

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 5013
Re: Morality in a foreign language
« Reply #2 on: September 24, 2016, 10:32:46 AM »
The last time that I visited my wife's home country, on one night I dreamed in their language  :o, I must be getting more proficient in it.

L.A.

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 5278
    • Radcliffe U3A
Re: Morality in a foreign language
« Reply #3 on: September 24, 2016, 08:44:09 PM »
Find the idea that morality might change because of such things oddly compelling



http://tinyurl.com/gr7dm4z

I've viewed this post numerous times and I have come to the conclusion that it is the most extraordinary difficult idea to test unless you fluent in at least two languages and familiar with the associated cultures.

It's certainly true that our moral judgements of a particular event depend on our perspective and it's also true that news coverage of world events tends to get a different bias in different cultures, so the language that you are hearing will change that perspective.
Brexit Bar:

Full of nuts but with lots of flakey bits and a bitter aftertaste

Brownie

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3858
  • Faith evolves
Re: Morality in a foreign language
« Reply #4 on: September 24, 2016, 08:55:00 PM »
The last time that I visited my wife's home country, on one night I dreamed in their language  :o, I must be getting more proficient in it.

When I was younger I dreamed in shorthand a few times.  A common occurrence for me was, for example, sitting on a train thinking about something and visualising the outline of what I was thinking, in shorthand.  I don't think any of that affected my moral compass  :D.
Let us profit by what every day and hour teaches us