Assuaging or reconciling, couldn’t really decide.

Lately I’ve been feeling in something of a rut on how to go about participating in much of, well, anything given how things are. You buy this or that, despite knowing workers probably aren’t being treated well, but you aren’t sure what you could do to help.

This could be anything ranging from histories of organizing to help guide action, contemporary works that better help pointing to what may be done today, or general old meditations on this from throughout time.

One I’ve already set aside to dig through, despite some misgivings with it from parts I’ve read (or perhaps it was from another related work by the author, it’s been awhile), is Moral Man and Immoral Society by Reinhold Niebuhr.

Another I’ve kept meaning to finish that somewhat touches on this subject as well was Pragmatism by William James, which I’d easily recommend as remarkably prescient for the time it was written, at least imo.

Thanks for any suggestions, and p.s. the first book I’ve mentioned may be available through your library if you’re curious about it.

    • ALostInquirer@lemm.eeOP
      1·
      1 year ago

      Thanks, this serves as a reminder that I really should get around to reading some of the writings of the stoics more directly. I’ve only really read some summaries, excerpts, and the odd quote here or there till now. 😅

  • TimTheEnchanter@beehaw.org
    2·
    1 year ago

    I really enjoyed How to Be Perfect: The Correct Answer to Every Moral Question by Michael Schur. It’s funny and accessible, perfect for beginners looking into ethics (I’m not well versed in philosophy at all, ha ha!). It doesn’t go into a lot of depth, but it’s got a lot of good info and jumping off points for further reading. Definitely recommend if you’re a fan of The Good Place!

    • ALostInquirer@lemm.eeOP
      2·
      1 year ago

      I did enjoy The Good Place, so this might be a fun read and maybe a pointer to some other texts for more detail, so thanks!

  • Uncle_AbbieEnglish
    2·
    4 months ago

    I’d recommend The Bhagavad Gita. You don’t have to be of the Hindu faith to get something out of it, it’s enough just to see it as a different way to view things.

    My favorite translation is by Ranchor Prime, because his version is organized into parables instead of a line-by-line analysis, but there is also a nice public domain version at Project Gutenberg, HERE.