I often hear people say that "hate" is wrong or bad. But to what extent should we consider this with a concern or with significance, and should we give energy to this on the basis of degree — Cobra
Most people have recognise it’s ok or good to hate Hitler. — DingoJones
Was that hate or fear? — DingoJones
I always thought that (the war) was more fear based. I agree hatred and fear often show up together or lead to each other...maybe those are two ends of a spectrum. — DingoJones
So, if I have an extreme hate toward fat people, is this unethical? Or is this hate "good" because being fat is unhealthy?
Or, say, if Mike says, "I hate women" as a result to trauma, should this be cause of concern? And should he be labelled a "misogynist".
What I mean is, hate seems to lose significance often, but it's not exactly clear what is determining the degree of significance, even following analysis.
Ex;
"Mike says he hates women, because his mother abused him."
But it seems to be devoid of anything requiring immediate moral action, yet, if Mike was placed in a government position of power, and said, "I hate women," suddenly there is some significance to this, and he will be labelled a misogynist, but not in the former example. — Cobra
So, if I have an extreme hate toward fat people, is this unethical? Or is this hate "good" because being fat is unhealthy? — Cobra
Or, say, if Mike says, "I hate women" as a result to trauma, should this be cause of concern? And should he be labelled a "misogynist". — Cobra
What I mean is, hate seems to lose significance often, but it's not exactly clear what is determining the degree of significance, even following analysis. — Cobra
I often hear people say that "hate" is wrong or bad — Cobra
Why do we then, not support the extreme hatred of fat people, but support the extreme hatred of "Hitler" for example?
Is it because all the fat people claim, "It's wrong to hate fat people,". Is this the case? — Cobra
As some warn victory, some downfall
Private reasons great or small
Can be seen in the eyes of those that call
To make all that should be killed to crawl
While others say don't hate nothing at all
Except hatred. — Bob Dylan
Would you say those that "lack hatred" for Hitler are "bad"? What is the purpose of "hating" Hitler? — Cobra
I think that hatred, in strong aversion or wishing harm to those with specific attributes is connected to psychological projective processes. Take your example of hatred of the fat person, it may be that specific undesirability of fatness as an aesthetic quality is projected onto the individuals who are perceived as fat. The example of hatred of fat people also raises the connection between hatred of others and hatred of self. I have worked with people who have eating disorders and it does seem that they often have internalised self hatred. — Jack Cummins
Are you hating obesity or people who are obese? There’s a difference, and I would say reducing a person’s value due solely to their weight is wrong, but hating obesity is like hating pain; there’s nothing wrong with it (I’d actually claim it’s amoral), but that’s because things like obesity and pain are more abstract, so there’s really nothing concrete to direct your anger towards. Hating obesity or pain entails nothing that could affect someone else, at least not that I’m seeing. — Pinprick
I would suggest that hate/hatred is simply an emotion or emotional state. As with most emotional states, the state itself is not a problem. Actions which are a result of said state can be positive or negative. For example: I hate being poor. This hatred in turn motivates me to work hard, save what little money I make, use said money to increase my education and training, resulting in a higher earned wage. I repeat this process until I find I am no longer anywhere near poor. My children do not have to be nearly as concerned as I was about where my dinner is coming from, or where they will sleep. etc. Hatred has motivated me to self improvement.
However, same example: I hate being poor. I look about me and see many others with more than I. This fills me with hatred and envious rage. I proceed to stalk those with more than I have and take it by force. Eventually I am caught, convicted, and spend a lengthy time incarcerated, which further fuels my hate. My children grow up without me, I have not bettered myself, nor those around me (except maybe the guards, they are employed because of people like me). Hatred has led me to self destruction.
Like most emotions, what you feel is far less important than what you do about it. — Book273
You have raised an interesting discussion. I am not sure that the feeling of strong dislike and feeling hatred and that of wishing harm is absolute. Perhaps the latter is the exaggeration form of it and most people don't go that far. It could be that the more a person becomes accustomed to the mental state of feeling and thinking thoughts of aversion or hatred, that it becomes a possible starting point is hatred, in its meaning of wishing harm.
I think that hatred, in strong aversion or wishing harm to those with specific attributes is connected to psychological projective processes. — Jack Cummins
Take your example of hatred of the fat person, it may be that specific undesirability of fatness as an aesthetic quality is projected onto the individuals who are perceived as fat. The example of hatred of fat people also raises the connection between hatred of others and hatred of self. I have worked with people who have eating disorders and it does seem that they often have internalised self hatred.
Could you answer this:
So, if I have an extreme hate toward fat people, is this unethical? Or is this hate "good" because being fat is unhealthy?
Surely this isn't just a matter of circumstance, and whether hate is good or bad isn't determined by the circumstance, but the degree in which hate has significance.
Being fat is almost always detrimental in the long run. Would you say "hate" is good, therefore ethical because it serves a significant role in discouraging fatness?
Why do we then, not support the extreme hatred of fat people, but support the extreme hatred of "Hitler" for example?
Is it because all the fat people claim, "It's wrong to hate fat people,". Is this the case? — Cobra
Get involved in philosophical discussions about knowledge, truth, language, consciousness, science, politics, religion, logic and mathematics, art, history, and lots more. No ads, no clutter, and very little agreement — just fascinating conversations.